Mt. Everest is known to be the earth’s tallest peak reaching 8,850 meters (29,035 feet) above sea level. Last November 20, 2020, a team of researchers published a paper about plastic in snow from 8,440 meters (27,690 feet) high near the Everest’s peak.

Imogen Napper, a marine scientist based in England, investigated the phenomena together with his team.

Napper’s team collected samples of snow and stream water from several areas on the mountain and they found out that all 11 snow samples and 3 out of 8 stream water samples contained microplastics.

Microplastics are plastic fibers that are smaller than 5 millimeters (0.2 inch). Usually, plastic strand pops out from climbers’ equipment, gear, garbage, and clothes.

Napper concluded that it is not surprising. Hundreds of climbers every year attempt to reach the summit. Discarding so much junk along their treks made the mountain be called as “the highest trash dump in the world”.

Source

I.E. Napper et al. Reaching New heights in plastic pollution — preliminary findings of microplastics on Mount Everest. One Earth. Published online November 20, 2020. doi: 10.1016/j.oneear.2020.10.020.