Advancements in Microplastics Knowledge 

Two reports have significantly augmented the national comprehension of microplastic emissions and their origins. Executing a mandate from the Norwegian Environment Agency, Mepex has recalibrated estimates pertaining to terrestrial microplastic emanations, revealing quantities surpassing prior evaluations. Importantly, these reports represent the inaugural inclusion of microplastic emissions originating from littering. 

The empirical evidence posits an emission volume of approximately 19,000 tons of microplastics from terrestrial sources, a figure notably surpassing previous estimations. This divergence is principally attributed to a methodological shift in the computation of transport-related emissions. Predominantly, sources of emissions persist in the domain of tire abrasion, road particulate matter, and the dispersion of rubber granules from synthetic turf surfaces.   

-In order to assess measures aimed at mitigating the prevalence of microplastics in the environment, there is a need of updated and robust knowledge concerning their sources and dissemination mechanisms. A pivotal facet of the undertaken mandate encompassed the identification and estimation of emission sources unexamined, alongside the missing knowledge and an evaluation of the data quality currently at our disposal. Kristine Mordal Hessen, Section Head for Waste and Soil Contamination at the Norwegian Environment Agency

Senior Advisor Sølvi Rønnekleiv at Mepex asserts that delving into the intricacies of plastic degradation has been an intellectually stimulating endeavour. The interplay between the environment and the degradation process, wherein microplastics reciprocally influence their surroundings, stands as a focal point of her exploration. Notably, Rønnekleiv underscores the potential ramifications of black microplastics, explaining their potential contribution to heightened snowmelt. Furthermore, she observes the pervasive presence of microplastic particles originating from road dust even in Arctic regions, accentuating the far-reaching implications of microplastic dissemination.  

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