Fig. 9: Evolution of a hypothetical heterogeneous micro- and nanoplastic particle (MNP) population over time. | Communications Earth & Environment

Fig. 9: Evolution of a hypothetical heterogeneous micro- and nanoplastic particle (MNP) population over time.

From: Particle properties and environmental factors control atmospheric transport and deposition of micro- and nanoplastics

Fig. 9

Initial particle population of low-density polyethylene (LDPE) MNPs is assumed to be composed of 50% spheres and 50% fibres at time t = 0, equally distributed over 50 size bins ranging from 0.001 µm to 1000 µm, evenly spaced on a logarithmic scale. For fibres, an aspect ratio L/S (longest [L] over shortest [S] axis) of 100 is assumed, and the size bins correspond to the equivalent sphere radius for LDPE. Changes in particle number over time (1 h, 1 day, 1 week, 1 month, 6 months) are displayed assuming dry deposition conditions (no precipitation) on a desert surface with surface winds us = 2 m s−1.

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