assessing the role of forests as sinks for airborne microplastics that would otherwise continue to disperse…

assessing the role of forests as sinks for airborne microplastics that would otherwise continue to disperse in the atmosphere. akira miyazaki and his team measured concentrations of plastic particulates on leaves from kunara oak - trees in japan. the team used three separate extraction methods: an air - purifier water rinse, a rinse combined with ultrasonic waves, and an alkaline - solution treatment that removes epicuticular wax (a surface coating on most land plants) to which particles can adhere. the concentrations of particulates recovered were 1.6 percent for water extraction, 28.4 percent for ultrasonic extraction, and 53.6 percent for alkaline extraction, leading the scientists to conclude that previous measurements have likely underestimated forest receptor capacity as sinks. 13. which detail, if true, would most directly support the teams conclusion? a. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have utilized extraction methods that do not have a substantial effect on epicuticular wax. b. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have focused on forests with diverse tree species that exhibit varying levels of epicuticular wax. c. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have found particulate concentrations that greatly exceeded 53.6 percent. d. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have recorded the application of alkaline treatments before water and ultrasonic treatments rather than after them.

assessing the role of forests as sinks for airborne microplastics that would otherwise continue to disperse in the atmosphere. akira miyazaki and his team measured concentrations of plastic particulates on leaves from kunara oak - trees in japan. the team used three separate extraction methods: an air - purifier water rinse, a rinse combined with ultrasonic waves, and an alkaline - solution treatment that removes epicuticular wax (a surface coating on most land plants) to which particles can adhere. the concentrations of particulates recovered were 1.6 percent for water extraction, 28.4 percent for ultrasonic extraction, and 53.6 percent for alkaline extraction, leading the scientists to conclude that previous measurements have likely underestimated forest receptor capacity as sinks. 13. which detail, if true, would most directly support the teams conclusion? a. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have utilized extraction methods that do not have a substantial effect on epicuticular wax. b. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have focused on forests with diverse tree species that exhibit varying levels of epicuticular wax. c. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have found particulate concentrations that greatly exceeded 53.6 percent. d. most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have recorded the application of alkaline treatments before water and ultrasonic treatments rather than after them.

Answer

Brief Explanations:

The team concluded previous measurements likely underestimated forest - canopy capacity as sinks. If most studies used extraction methods that don't have a substantial effect on epicuticular wax (unlike the team's methods), it means previous studies might have missed some microplastics that the team's methods could detect, thus supporting the conclusion that previous measurements were underestimates.

Answer:

A. Most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have utilized extraction methods that do not have a substantial effect on epicuticular wax.