# Pilot Study of Microplastics in Snow from the Zhetysu Region (Kazakhstan)
## 4 Conclusions  
The Zhetysu region is characterized by a variety of natural and climatic conditions affecting the accumulation and distribution of microplastics. The analysis of 53 snow samples revealed the presence of microplastic in 92.6% of the samples, which confirms its wide distribution throughout the region, including both plain mountain foreland and high- mountainous areas. The concentration of microplastic varied from 1 to 12 particles per m\({}^{2}\), with the maximum concentration (12 particles per m\({}^{2}\)) observed at the point of minimum snow cover height (Ainabulak village, 1284 m above sea level). The majority of samples were dominated by small microplastic particles less than 0.5 mm in size (more than 80% of samples), which indicates the high aerodynamic mobility of particles and their ability to be transported over long distances. The main polymers identified by Raman spectroscopy were polyethylene, polypropylene and polystyrene, which are typical components of plastic waste. It was found that the presence of microplastics is recorded not only near settlements and transport highways but also in remote and inaccessible mountainous areas of the region, which confirms the significant role of atmospheric transport of microplastics over long distances, including its transboundary transport. The results obtained demonstrate the scale of microplastic distribution in the region and the need for its further study and monitoring throughout Central Asia. Average microplastic concentrations in the snow of the Zhetysu region (according to our pilot study) are comparable to those reported for relatively remote sectors of Antarctica (\(\sim\)30 particles L\({}^{-1}\)) and for areas near industrial centers of the mid-latitudes. In the mountains of Central Europe, tens of thousands of microplastic particles per liter of snow have been recorded, with polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polystyrene (PS) dominating--evidence of the universal character of the main pollution sources (packaging, synthetic textiles, etc.). In conclusion, several strategic measures can be proposed to mitigate microplastic contamination in snow-covered regions. _Reducing microplastic sources_: Limit the release of plastics into the environment by expanding recycling technologies and improving waste-management practices. For instance, strengthen collection and disposal rules in mountain tourist areas and settlements such that plastic litter is not dispersed by wind or incorporated into the snowpack. _Education and environmental awareness_: Engaging residents and tourists helps to reduce the input of macro-litter that later fragments into microplastics. _Monitoring and scientific research_: Regular monitoring of microplastics in snow and air, together with further studies on their effects on snow ecosystems, is essential for evidence-based management decisions. Conceptualization, A.M. ([PERSON]), L.I. and C.O. ; methodology, L.I., A.M. ([PERSON]) and C.O. ; software, A.Z. ; validation, A.M. ([PERSON]) and C.O. ; formal analysis, L.I., A.Z., B.S. and R.N. ; investigation, A.M. ([PERSON]), L.I., A.Z., B.S., R.N. and A.M. ([PERSON]); resources, A.M. ([PERSON]) and C.O. ; data curation, A.M. ([PERSON]); writing--original draft preparation, L.I., A.M. ([PERSON]) and C.O. ; writing--review and editing, [PERSON] ([PERSON]), L.I. and C.O. ; visualization, [PERSON] ([PERSON]), [PERSON], L.I. and A.M. ([PERSON]); supervision, [PERSON] ([PERSON]) and C.O. ; project administration, [PERSON] ([PERSON]); funding acquisition, [PERSON] ([PERSON]) and C.O. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript. The work was carried out in the framework of grant funding by the Committee of Science of the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Republic of Kazakhstan No. AP23488902 \"Ecosystem Sustainability of Zhetysu Region: Geo-environmental analysis of depositing environments and recommendations for sustainable development\". Not applicable. The original contributions presented in this study are included in the article.