Britain’s woodlands are ridden with air–polluting microplastics, experts have warned.
Researchers have discovered nearly double the amount of tiny toxic particles in rural areas compared to city centres.
This includes in Wytham Woods, in Oxfordshire, where up to 500 pieces of microplastic were found per square metre.
The scientists, from the University of Leeds, said they believe trees and other vegetation ‘capture’ airborne microplastic particles from the atmosphere.
Now, they warn their findings challenge the assumption that microplastic pollution is mainly an urban problem – and that humans could be at risk from inhaling the tiny particles.
‘Our research reveals that rural environments are not necessarily safe from airborne microplastics – and highlights how natural features like trees influence pollution patterns,’ lead author Dr Gbotemi Adediran said.
‘This shows that microplastic deposition is shaped not just by human activity, but also by environmental factors, which has important implications for monitoring, managing, and reducing microplastic pollution.
‘The widespread presence of smaller microplastics raises concerns about potential health risks from inhalation, regardless of whether people live in a city or a rural village.’
Wytham Woods, a 1,000–acre site of Special Scientific Interest in Oxfordshire, where microplastics were detected in greater numbers than in urban areas
The scientists, from the University of Leeds, said they believe trees and other vegetation ‘capture’ airborne microplastic particles from the atmosphere. Pictured: Wytham Woods
Previous studies have shown that microplastics can remain suspended in the air for weeks, with the smallest particles travelling many thousands of miles. Particles travel on swirling air currents, spreading out as the air moves.
The team set out to investigate the impact of weather on different particles and how that linked to the types detected in different landscapes.
They chose three locations in Oxfordshire – rural Wytham Woods, suburban Summertown and urban Oxford City – and took samples every two to three days from May to July 2023.
The team used a high–resolution FTIR spectroscope, which measures how infrared light is absorbed by materials in a sample, allowing them to identify what the materials are made of.
Looking at how and where they settled, and weather variables across the study period, they registered between 12 and 500 particles per square metre per day.
Wytham Woods recorded the highest overall number of particles, while Oxford City had the largest range of different particle types.
Up to 99 per cent of the particles were the smallest size, which are invisible to the human eye.
In Wytham Woods, most of the particles found were polyethylene terephthalate, commonly known as PET, which is used in clothing and food containers.
The team warn their findings challenge the assumption that microplastic pollution is mainly an urban problem. Pictured: Oxford city centre
Researchers discovered nearly double the amount of tiny toxic particles in rural areas such as Wytham Woods compared to Oxford city centre
In Summertown, polyethylene, which is used to make plastic bags, was most commonly found.
And in Oxford city, most particles were of ethylene vinyl alcohol, a polymer widely used in multilayer food packaging, automotive fuel system components and industrial films.
Weather conditions had a strong influence on movement of the particles, they found. During periods of high atmospheric pressure, which leads to calm, sunny weather, fewer particles were deposited, but in windy weather, especially from the northeast, particles were deposited in greater numbers.
Rainfall reduced the number of particles, but those that were collected were larger.
While the true impact of microplastics on our long–term health remains unclear, previous studies have found that exposure can cause oxidative stress, leading to cellular and tissue damage, inflammatory responses, and disruption of the gut microbiome.
Dr Adediran said: ‘Our findings highlight the impact of weather patterns on microplastic dispersion and deposition, and the role of trees and other vegetation in intercepting and depositing airborne particles from the atmosphere.
‘The study highlights the need for further research into long–term deposition patterns of microplastics, focusing on specific plastic types and sizes, and their relationship with short–term and seasonal weather variations across diverse landscapes.’
The findings were published in the journal Environmental Pollution.
HOW MUCH PLASTIC POLLUTION DO WE BREATHE IN PER DAY?
Plastic pollution has become so widespread that we may be inhaling up to 130 tiny pieces a day, research found.
Fibres from fleece and polyester clothing and particles from urban dust and car tyres are the biggest sources of so-called microplastics in the air.
Microplastics are small plastic pellets ranging in size from 0.5 millimetres that have accumulated in the marine environment following decades of pollution. They include polyester fibres generated from laundry
The tiny specks are lighter than air and could cause asthma, heart disease and auto-immune conditions, the research, published in December 2017, found.
The study, a review of a number of recent plastics studies, revealed washing a single polyester garment can produce 1,900 plastic fibres.
Plastic pollution has become so widespread that we may be inhaling up to 130 tiny pieces a day, research found (stock image)
This plastic pollution is on the rise as more and more synthetic clothing is produced.
While only people working with plastic fibres are known to develop respiratory problems, experts say the pollution is so widespread that it may now pose a risk to everyone’s health.
The study’s author, Dr Joana Correia Prata, of Fernando Pessoa University in Portugal, said: ‘The evidence suggests that an individual’s lungs could be exposed to between 26 and 130 airborne microplastics a day, which would pose a risk for human health, especially in susceptible individuals, including children.
‘Exposure may cause asthma, cardiac disease, allergies and auto-immune diseases.’
