The Facts
Microplastics have been found in clouds, a new study reports. The discovery suggests a mechanism for how microplastics—tiny pieces of plastic that are less than five millimeters long—could potentially affect the climate.
Scientists in Japan published a study in Environmental Chemistry Letters on Wednesday that used advanced imaging techniques to determine the physical and chemical properties of water samples collected from mists shrouding Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama.
The Spin
Narrative A
Now we know that microplastics are present in clouds. 10M tons of these plastic bits end up in the ocean, are released with sea spray, and find their way into the atmosphere. This suggests that microplastics may have become an essential component of clouds, contaminating nearly everything we eat and drink via "plastic rainfall," which could have major consequences for the environment and human health.
Narrative B
The effects of microplastics on human health are uncertain. While some studies have found a correlation between plastic consumption and certain health problems, others have not. Further study is needed to determine whether microplastics pose a threat to humans.