A review of microplastic contamination in the cryosphere.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics, recognized as an emerging and pervasive environmental contaminant, have been detected in remote cryospheric regions such as Antarctica, Arctic, Andes, Alps, and High Asia. This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastic occurrence, sources, and transport pathways across cryospheric environments. Microplastics are transported primarily by atmospheric and hydrological processes and accumulate in snow and ice, where they act as temporary sinks. In Polar regions, sea ice plays a vital role in the storage and periodic release of microplastics, whereas high-altitude mountain systems receive significant inputs from mid-latitude emissions. The review also highlights the potential impacts of microplastics on cryospheric systems, including their role in the reduction of albe

SUBMITTER: Qayoom I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12808910 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature