Question

assessing the role of forests as sinks for airborne microplastics that would otherwise continue to disperse in the atmosphere. atsuko miyazaki and her team measured concentrations of plastic particulates on leaves from kanuma oak trees in japan. the team used three separate extraction methods: an ultrapure 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 7.6 percent for water extraction, 38.4 percent for ultrasonic extraction, and 53.8 percent for alkaline extraction, leading the team to conclude that previous assessments have likely underestimated forest canopies capacity as sinks.
13 which detail, if true, would most strongly 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 53.8 percent.
d most studies of microplastic accumulation on leaves have involved the application of alkaline treatments before water and ultrasonic treatments rather than after them.

Explanation:

The team concluded that previous assessments have likely underestimated forest canopies' capacity as sinks. If most studies have used extraction methods that don't affect epicuticular wax (which the team's methods do), and the team found higher concentrations, it supports the idea that previous studies underestimated. This is because the new method that affects wax may be more effective at extracting microplastics, showing that the canopies can hold more than previously thought.

Answer:

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