Study Finds High Levels of Microplastics Enter Swiss Soil Each Year
- On Thursday, Swiss research institutes Empa, Eawag, and Agroscope reported that approximately 219 tonnes of microplastics deposit annually across Switzerland via atmospheric deposition.
- Supported by the Federal Office for the Environment , researchers collected samples at five locations over one year, including sites in Zurich and the Jura, to systematically track airborne microplastic pollution.
- Polyethylene terephthalate was the most frequent plastic identified at 31%, followed by polyethylene at 26% and polypropylene at 21%, with approximately 78 tonnes settling directly on agricultural land annually.
- Although microplastics comprise only 0.02% to 0.12% of total airborne particle mass, Empa researchers recommended avoiding littering, using plastics only where necessary, and closing material cycles to reduce accumulation.
- Despite their low mass proportion, microplastic particles accumulate considerably over large areas and barely degrade in the environment, yet the full consequences for ecosystems and human health remain largely unclear.
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15 Articles
These small particles have become a form of widespread and persistent contamination.
A study has revealed that 96% of the microplastics flowing into the ocean via rivers worldwide are concentrated in developing countries, such as Southeast Asia. Heavy rainfall rapidly amplifies this microplastic outflow, suggesting that as extreme weather events become more frequent due to climate change, microplastic pollution will become even more severe.
Transported by air, particles of microplastics come mainly from PET bottles, textiles and packaging. About 40% end up on agricultural land, in lakes and rivers, according to a first systematic research Transported by air, 219 tons of microplastics arrive each year in Swiss soil and waters, according to a study by l'Empa, l'Eawag and d'Agroscope. About 40% of these particles end up on agricultural land, in lakes and rivers.For the first time, a t…
The microplastic comes from, for example, the fibres of clothing, PET bottles or other plastic packaging.
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