Arctic Glacier Yields Shocking Tire Dust Discovery

Kristian Louis Jensen, an Inuit scientist, has revealed the extensive spread of microplastics by finding tire particles on a remote Greenland glacier. His research indicates these particles, originating from car tires, travel thousands of kilometers and are deposited in the Arctic, marking it as a sink for global pollution. These microplastics pose significant ecological threats, including toxicity to Arctic species and deformities in fish eggs, jeopardizing Greenland's fishing industry.

Furthermore, the pollution presents a serious health risk to Indigenous communities, settling on their food sources. Jensen criticizes current climate policies for a "critical blind spot," as they regulate tailpipe emissions but neglect tire wear, a leading source of microplastics. He advocates for including 'carbon black,' a tire component, in discussions about transitioning away from fossil fuels.