Microplastics are in the clouds and rain

Question

Clouds now contain microscopic pieces of plastic that in turn are causing “plastic rainfall”, according to a new study.

Scientists fear that these particles of less than 5mm - known as microplastics - could be contaminating “nearly everything we eat and drink”.

Comments

I believe that this claim is true. The earliest source that I could find was from National Geographic in April 2019. There are numerous other sources, including CNN, Science Direct, Nature Journal, and Wired. Between the consistency of the narratives in these articles, the reputability of the various magazines, and the multi-year chronology of the narrative, this claim appears to be true, and well documented. The Independent is a legitimate magazine, and has a reputation as a fairly credible source. Furthermore, the author, Vishwam Sankaran, has a profile on Linked In that legitimizes their identity as a journalist. Sankaran has more than 500 connections, and a fully documented history of their professional experience as a science journalist. The topic does seem to be well documented prior to this article, but this article focuses on a more recent study which was also documented by the media company Al Jazeera. The only quote that seems questionable is the scientists’ paraphrased belief that they are the first to discover airborne microplastics in the clouds, as the topic appears to have been covered years prior. The writing of the article itself also evokes credibility, as it is not noticeably opinionated, rather documenting the scientific discovery.

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This claim is true and has been researched by many environmentalists. The so-called "plastic rain" is a huge concern for our health and the health of all organisms. These microplastics reside in "the free troposphere" and are major pollutants (Sexton). I think it is interesting how this issue may be ignored because these plastics are not seen unless under a microscope in a lab. Therefore people are less likely to remember how concerning it is.
https://www.earth.com/news/plastic-rain-the-growing-threat-of-airborne-microplastics/

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great job for using a lot of reliable sources! I liked how you looked into the author and their LinkedIn as well for credibility. As for questioning the paraphrased opinion, it's good you pointed that out.

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This claim and evidence are true and have been tested by many across the globe, one being an example from scientists in eastern China, testing the cloud formation affected by micro-plastics in the air on Mount Tai. They found evidence of fragments where there shouldn't be in the clouds and airflow versus by the land and sea. The details describe in-depth what microplastics are doing to an aspect of our environment and how it could potentially snowball into a much bigger threat. https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2023/november/microplastics-found-in-clouds-could-affect-the-weather.html

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I liked the way you approached this claim; the information is clear and concise, and you went to extra lengths to fact-check this claim and did a lot of work going "upstream"  to find the LinkedIn of the journalist to legitimize their claims about microplastics in rainfall.

Answer 1

This claim is true. The claim is made by The Independent which I believe is a fairly reliable source in general. Additionally, other news outlets, like Science Daily, Fox, and The Times of India, seemed to be saying similar information so it's a good sign others are saying the same thing. I decided to look even further into the claim and see where The Independent got its information. The article cites the information from a study conducted by scientists at Waseda University in Japan. I was able to find the original study and published results on Waseda University's website. These scientists, led by professor Hiroshi Okochi, were exploring “the path of airborne microplastics (AMPs) as they circulate in the biosphere, adversely impacting human health and the climate” (Waseda). Because microplastics are ending up in our oceans, they are then getting into the atmosphere. Further, “this implies that microplastics may have become an essential component of clouds, contaminating nearly everything we eat and drink via ‘plastic rainfall’” (Waseda). They collected cloud water samples from the summits of Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama to test this and found microplastics. So, yes microplastics are being found in clouds and rain. 

Study at Waseda University: https://www.waseda.jp/top/en/news/78501 and https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10311-023-01626-x 

Comments

You did a great job breaking down this claim and provide strong credible sources for your reasoning. By finding the original study and even the specific scientists that led the experiment. Also by finding other sources that posted similar claims also increased the chances of the likelihood of this claim to be considered true.

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You did a great job analyzing this claim by going into further detail and finding the original source that researched said claim. You researched this claim through multiple reliable sources thus concluding that the claim is a true statement.

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I enjoyed how you walked through your entire process of how you came to this conclusion. The fact that you found the original study and the results backed the claim that The Independent made. Good fact check!

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Great job on explaining why the claim of there being microplastics in the clouds is true. You provided a very detailed explanation of your findings and based those findings off of credible sources. You also provide information on where the claim originally came from which helps provide some background on the claim.

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This is a very good fact check. You provided multiple sources and did an in-depth analysis of the news outlet "The Independence." I appreciated your use of incite quotations to help back up your claims.  Overall great job!

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Your set of sources are extremely credible, and therefore validify your argument extremely. Can I ask what made you choose Science Daily and The Times of India? Are these sources credible enough to provide clear-cut evidence? Regardless, the fact you went above and beyond looking into The Independent was fascinating!

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I appreciate your inclusion of your thought process throughout the response and the reliable source you landed on. You provided helpful insight, and ability to continue to research more about the topic through the souce

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You did a great job finding and explaining the credible sources used to back up this claim. I valued the way you involved your thought process in your explanation, it allowed me to follow the way you went about your fact check ensuring it was credible.

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this was a thorough answer it was concise and to the point and you back up your sources and went to the original source as well.

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Your extensive research was excellent. You cited/mentioned multiple other sources and provided context to back up your reasoning as to why these sources make the claim credible. Your analysis was concise and easy to understand.

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I enjoyed the verbiage you used to sort out the process of how the rain water was affected by microplastics and how it made it easier to understand because of the insight you provided

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I think you did an excellent job in not only breaking one but several sources down to provide evidence. This is a scary topic, but I think you did a great job at laying all the important facts out. As well as providing detail and strong resources!

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Good job on this fact check. You brought in a lot of sources and also checked the sources that they used which I appreciate. You made these facts about microplastics and rain easy to understand. I also appreciate that you cited the study you did, because it brings in a professional perspective to this conversation.

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I think this was an excellent fact-check. I like how you used a study over an article written in news media. I think it's very important to find the original source and you did that here. Great job breaking this down

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I like the way you dug deep to find real answers. Couldn't believe this one.

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I think you did a very quality job in this fact check. I like that you went further into the issue and did your own research to further back up and prove the claim that was made. Adding specific quotes from the scientists of the study that found micro plastics in the rain also helps to support the primary claim in the beginning. Great job with this fact check. I would only say you could maybe add another source just to back it up even more. Here's some reliable one's I found:
https://www.isse.org.uk/clouds-now-contain-plastic-risking-contamination-of-everything-we-eat-and-drink/
https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2023/november/microplastics-found-in-clouds-could-affect-the-weather.html

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I believe you did a great job breaking down this fact check. First off, you looked at who else had reported on the subject matter and found that other reliable sources were commenting on it. Secondly, you used a source such as a scientific report to help back up your claim. Overall, you really helped break down who was sharing this subject matter as well as showing through scientific sources the credibility of this fact check. Great research!

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You did a great job with this fact check. You found other sources of people who had previously reported this topic, while also finding other reliable sources.

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This was a great fact check. The author dove deep into this claim and wanted to find every detail they could. Their extensive research helps me confidently believe this claim is true.

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I think you did an excellent job with this fact check. First, you reviewed who else had reported on the topic and found that other credible sources were discussing it. Then, you supported your claim with a reliable scientific report. Overall, you effectively broke down who was sharing the information and demonstrated the credibility of the fact check using solid evidence.

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I found your citation of The Independent and its reference to the Waseda University study well done. But there’s one thing I want to change. Did you check if the data collection was showing all the world's cloud systems or specific to Mount Fuji and Mount Oyama?

Answer 2

Yes, unfortunately that is correct. There was an article published by the American Chemical Society which stated that a team of scientists in China had analyzed clouds over mountains, which showed that multiple different kinds of plastic were found in clouds. source one

Not only that, but plastic can affect cloud formation, but there needs to be more research done on how it will affect weather, as stated in an article by the guardian. source two.

Comments

Using a peer-reviewed journal for your fact check lends your analysis a lot of credibility! The Guardian may be considered to be biased by some (though still considered accurate in its reporting), but the American Chemical Society is an excellent source of facts without the potential bias of a writer distributing the study's information.

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I really liked that you used a peer reviewed journal! Bouncing ideas around with others always helps you get the most correct answer.

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Great job doing a in depth fact checking. I love how you even added a bit more with the addition of your second source.

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Adding reputable information about the cloud contamination helps to back up the claim that microplastics are found in rainwater. Great job

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Love how you used a peer reviewed journal and provided such indepth fact checking. It made it a lot easier of a concept to grasp

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Always mention your sources rather than cite them as "source one" etc. It'll make for a more comprehensive and strong fact-check.

Answer 3

This claim is true. Microplastics have been found in clouds circulating through the water cycle. Due to the circulation, microplastics could potentially contaminate our water. The Independent reported this news. The Independent is a reliable source, that often pulls from studies and outside sources. However, to ensure this claim was true, I explored other sources as well. The American Chemical Society (ACS), Natural History Museum, and CNN also reported on this claim and found it to be true. All of these sources relied on evidence from the original study conducted by Professor Hiroshi Okochi. Though this claim is found to be true, researchers are still unsure of the role this will play in the environment. According to the Natural History Museum, "minute particles known as microplastics are being carried along by clouds. As they float through the atmosphere, the tiny pieces of polymers are being chemically altered, improving their ability to encourage cloud formation." Though more studies should validate this claim to learn more about the effects on the environment, microplastics are found in clouds and are contaminating our water. 

https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/news/2023/november/microplastics-carried-clouds-could-affecting-weather.html#:~:text=Recent%20research%20high%20in%20the,ability%20to%20encourage%20cloud%20formation.

https://www.acs.org/pressroom/presspacs/2023/november/microplastics-found-in-clouds-could-affect-the-weather.html

https://www.cnn.com/2023/11/15/weather/microplastic-pollution-weather-study-climate/index.html

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/clouds-plastic-rain-food-contamination-b2420308.html

Comments

You did a amazing job double checking the source with multiple other sources that talked about different aspects of the issue. By gathering all this information from a variety of sources it really created a well rounded explanation to the issue not to mention very informative.

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This is an effective fact check! All four sources listed are accurate and seem reputable, and the way you presented the information directly addressed the claim while still providing important details about microplastics and the context of the claim.

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This was an extensive FactCheck! Your sources are reliable, and you pulled good evidence from each! You provided informational and relevant pieces from each article.

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Thank you for this excellent fact check. Your deep dive into this claim, and making sure you got every detail needed, helps us confidently know that we can trust your claim, saying that this is true.

Answer 4

After looking at different sources, I can confirm that this claim is accurate and true. According to the Washington Post, microplastics have been discovered in rivers, oceans, soil, food, tea, Antarctic snow, and clouds. Microplastics were discovered by researchers from Waseda University in Tokyo in the clouds that are above Mount Fuji. Additionally, according to Euro News Green, researchers have found polymers and rubber in the cloud water surrounding Mount Fuji. This is evidence that microplastics and plastic pollution have entered most of the ecosystems on Earth.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2023/11/02/microplastics-clouds-climate-pollution/

https://www.euronews.com/green/2023/09/29/plastic-air-pollution-microplastics-in-clouds-could-be-exacerbating-climate-change-study-s#:~:text=The%20presence%20of%20tiny%20plastics,be%20contributing%20to%20climate%20change.

Comments

I agree with your response, and you provided helpful articles and sources to reference. Since microplastics are taking full effect in the atmosphere and on Earth, I wonder what the long-term effects will be and how it will change the environment.

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I liked the way you fact-checked this claim. You included specific examples of where the microplastics have been found and a credible source of research done in a real place. You also included credible sources where the information was found in the first place. I wonder what directly affects microplastic rainfall in different ecosystems?

Answer 5

This is unfortunately an accurate statement, so sadly there are micro plastics in the rain clouds which leads to plastic being in the water system. After doing some research I found a study done at the summit of Mount Fuji and the summit of Mt. Oyama showing the presence of plastic in the cloud vapors. This study was done by researchers from a Japanese university and was reported on by wateronline.com, a website specialized in the world's water affairs. They also mention how 93% of US water samples contain micro plastics in them. 

https://www.wateronline.com/doc/researchers-find-microplastics-in-clouds-0001

Comments

You have chosen a great source to back up this original claim- a reputable website that specializes in the world's water affairs. In addition, the statistic included that 93% of US water samples contain microplastics is quite jarring and helps to back up the dramatic statement with real information.

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This was a good FactCheck! This is a great website to source from! This provides factual statements that are relevant to the topic and statistical evidence that displays the importance of this claim.

Answer 6

This claim is true. According to a nature geo source study, researches founds Microplastics in rainfall in the Pyrenees mountain region. 

Comments

I would definitely agree with your statement here, as Nature Geo Science seems to be a reliable source, though I do wonder if you could find any other articles or further information on the study to support your answer? For example, how many microplastics did they find?

Answer 7

This claim is true. One quick google search brings you immediately to the "American Chemistry Society" website, or ACS for short. The information that The Independent sources comes from this website. Specifically a study linked here. In the Abstract of the study, the scientists note that "Airborne microplastics (MPs) have the potential to travel a long distance and undergo several cloud processes through atmospheric transport." They go on to provide said evidence to support their claim. This information has also been shared through trusted outlets like Yale Environment 360 and earth.org

Source: https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00729

Answer 8

True-- Clouds are starting to contain microplastics. After reading the Independent UK article, I started to cross-check the article with research articles. I found the publication "Characterization of Microplastics in Clouds over Eastern China" which discusses the long-known microplastics present in oceans, are able to be airborne through atmospheric transport. There is not enough research to understand what this means for environmental impacts and future cloud formation processes. In another publication, these microplastics in the clouds impact the Earth's radiation and climate.

https://pubs.acs.org/doi/abs/10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00729

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41561-022-01051-9

Answer 9

According to an article published by Nature Journal in July of 2023, microplastics have been detected in rainwater samples. Scientists chemically identified these microplastics, and then correlated them with meteorological data. It is also stated that urban areas are more likely to contribute to higher levels of atmospheric microplastics. And yes, they are more than likely harmful to human health.

https://www.nature.com/articles/d44151-023-00095-z#:~:text=Polyethylene%20terephthalate%20and%20polypropylene%20are,dry%20and%20wet%20atmospheric%20fallouts.

Comments

This was a useful factcheck! I also found that Japanese scientists believe that when the microplastics reach the upper atmosphere, they are broken down and made into greenhouse gasses, due to the radiation. I think it is so interesting that plastic can travel so far.

Answer 10

This claim is true. The source that this claim uses is a reputable source with reliable information. Another media source, Wired backs this claim up by stating that 120 million water bottles worth of plastic fall annually on 11 protected lands. National Geographic, a very reputable nature media outlet found that microplastics are falling from the sky even in remote mountain areas.