Atmospheric microplastics: A review on current status and perspectives (original) (raw)
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Microplastics in the atmosphere: a review
Journal of Environmental Exposure Assessment, 2022
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants of considerable persistence and have been a global concern for the past decade. Recently, atmospheric MPs have gained attention. The presence of MPs in the air has been reported from different regions and in air masses over water bodies, demonstrating MPs’ capability of long-range transport and wide spatial distribution away from their source of origin. This review of atmospheric MPs raises questions about the validity and legitimacy of approaches adopted for assessing MP in indoor and outdoor aerosols. The review also provides insight into active and passive sampling techniques and draws attention to the use of the data produced. MP abundance in the atmosphere varies widely among studies due to the disparities in methods employed and the heterogeneity in reporting, making comparisons across spatio-temporal domains infructuous. This review also highlights the paucity of data on atmospheric MPs, and the eminent need to har...
Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 2023
Atmospheric plastic debris (microplastic and nanoplastic) research is comparatively little than in aquatic and terrestrial environments. Nonetheless, the research is important in understanding the risk and fate of these contaminants in the total environment. Generally, the research is limited by a lack of consensus on the characterization of plastic debris and the standardization of sampling and analysis protocols. These limitations make it difficult to compare results from studies. In response, criteria for defining plastic debris beyond size characterization have been proposed to include polymeric composition, solubility, physical state, shape, color, and origin. There are also emerging techniques, such as Py-GC/MS, which can measure smaller particles in the nanoscale range, and TGA-FTIR-GC/MS, which can accurately identify more polymers. The identification of microplastics and nanoplastics sources and formation processes is challenging. Since most polymers are inert, the adverse health risks include endocytosis and accumulation in the liver and spleen. However, most of the toxic effects of these contaminants are related to surface-bound compounds, including heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants. Some polymers, such as expanded polystyrene, decompose to form carcinogens. This paper offers an overview of the current knowledge on plastic debris in the atmosphere and will be useful to researchers interested in this field.
Airborne Microplastics: A Review Study on Method for Analysis, Occurrence, Movement and Risks
Microplastics (of size < 5mm) pollution in our environment is of current concern by researchers, public media and non-governmental organizations. Implications by their presence in aquatic and soil ecosystems have been well studied and documented, but less attention has been paid on airborne microplastics (MPs). Studies concerning airborne microplastics started from 2016 and only a few (n=7) have been published till date. Although, studies may increase in the following years, since air is very important for human survival. Microplastics have been observed in atmospheric fallouts in indoor and outdoor environments using a sampling or vacuum pump, rain sampler and/or particulate fallout collector. Identification and quantification have been carried out by visual, spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques. Factors such as meterological, climatic and anthropogenic influence the distribution and movement of airborne MP. Human exposure may be through inhalation or dermal route with the...
Characteristics, Toxic Effects, and Analytical Methods of Microplastics in the Atmosphere
Nanomaterials, 2021
Microplastics (MPs) (including nanoplastics (NPs)) are pieces of plastic smaller than 5 mm in size. They are produced by the crushing and decomposition of large waste plastics and widely distributed in all kinds of ecological environments and even in organisms, so they have been paid much attention by the public and scientific community. Previously, several studies have reviewed the sources, occurrence, distribution, and toxicity of MPs in water and soil. By comparison, the review of atmospheric MPs is inadequate. In particular, there are still significant gaps in the quantitative analysis of MPs and the mechanisms associated with the toxic effects of inhaled MPs. Thus, this review summarizes and analyzes the distribution, source, and fate of atmospheric MPs and related influencing factors. The potential toxic effects of atmospheric MPs on animals and humans are also reviewed in depth. In addition, the common sampling and analysis methods used in existing studies are introduced. The...
Microplastic in the environment: identification, occurrence, and mitigation measures
DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
Microplastic is an emerging pollutant causing trouble worldwide due to its extensive distribution and potential hazards to the ecological system. Some fundamental questions about microplastics, such as their presence, source, and possible hazards, remain unanswered. These issues develop because of a lack of systematic and comprehensive microplastic analysis. As a result, we thoroughly evaluated current knowledge on microplastics, including detection, characterization, occurrence, source, and potential harm. Microplastics are found in seawater, soil, wetlands, and air matrices worldwide based on findings. Visual classification, which can be enhanced by combining it with additional tools, is one of the most used methods for identifying microplastics. As soon as is practicable, microplastics analytical methods ought to be standardized. New techniques for analyzing nano-plastics are urgently needed in the meantime. Numerous studies have shown that microplastics' impacts on people and soil are significantly influenced by their size, shape, and surface physicochemical characteristics. Finally, this study suggests areas for future research based on the knowledge gaps in the area of microplastics.
Microplastics in the Atmosphere: A Global Perspective
Microplastic particles have been detected in various parts of the atmosphere. Earlier studies have attributed their primary source to the oceans. However, recent laboratory studies suggest that ocean emission fluxes are considerably lower than previously assumed, and specifically that they are lower than the sources related to transportation on land. Here, we perform model simulations of the atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastic particles at the global scale based on bottom-up reduced ocean emissions. We conclude that approximately 124 kilotons of microplastics are suspended in the atmosphere globally, and that 19 million tons/year are deposited on the Earth's surface with only 3 million tons/year being deposited to the oceans. The highest human exposure risk to microplastics is found in densely populated regions. The Arctic and Antarctica are significant receptor regions for microplastic particles with a diameter smaller than 1.5 µm that are transported over long...
Microplastics in air: A hidden public health threat
Review, 2022
Since the 1950s, there has been a huge increase in the production and use of plastic with the effect of modernization and industrialization. Annual plastic production has exceeded 350 million tonnes and the total amount of plastic produced has exceeded 9 billion tonnes. Although some of the plastics produced are still in use, a significant portion of them are discharged to landfills, or to various ecosystems because of some unconscious consumers. At macro level, plastic waste is decomposed into particles with a particle size of less than 5 mm with the help of external factors. These particles are called microplastics. Studies show that it is possible to find microplastics on land, in the oceans, in our food, and even in the air. This short review paper aims to inform the public about microplastics in the air, which is a potential public health threat.
Sources, analysis, and health implications of atmospheric microplastics
Emerging Contaminants
Microplastics (MPs) are emerging environmental contaminants pervasive in the environment. Studies have revealed that the majority of airborne MPs are in the form of fiber. Inhaled atmospheric MPs adversely impact human health, causing inflammation and oxidative stress. Atmospheric MPs may also carry hazardous chemical pollutants in addition to heavy metals. Many research studies have been conducted about MPs' presence in the environmental components, however questions about the presence and identification of atmospheric MPs remained unanswered. Based on the mentioned research gaps, this study examined the sources and abundance of MPs in the atmosphere and their generation, accumulation, and fate. The paper further studies and evaluates current methods for identifying and assessing airborne MPs and their impact on human health and the environment. According to the study findings, there are flaws and complexity in MPs assessment and technical procedures, which further challenges data comparability and dependability. In order to ensure data comparability and reliability, the abundance of atmospheric MPs needs to be expressed using a unified and standard methodology. Innovative and well-established identification methods, strategies to minimize the impacts of MPs, and appropriate steps to reduce this global pollution are required for the current state of MPs. It also provides an overview of atmospheric MPs' characteristics, sources, and airborne transmission and deposition mechanisms. Advances in bacterial degradation, sunlight-driven photocatalysts, fuels, and biodegradable plastics could revolutionize future studies on reducing plastic pollution. Future studies should include more research on the various aspects of atmospheric MPs. Despite several research studies conducted on the presence and identification of MPs in various environmental components, many questions regarding MPs in the atmosphere and from the perspectives of COVID-19 and One Health still need to be answered. This study will help the key stakeholders and policymakers in safeguarding public health and environment from the threats posed by airborne MPs.
Airborne microplastics in Bandung and Osaka: Concentration and characteristics
E3S web of conferences, 2024
Plastic is a material that is widely used in everyday life. It can be degraded into small-sized fragments (< 5 mm) called microplastics (MPs). Research on MPs has primarily focused on the aquatic environment, while studies on airborne MPs (AMPs) are still in their early stages. In this study, AMPs at two locations (Bandung (Indonesia) and Osaka (Japan)) were characterized by attenuated total imaging and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, as a preliminary study. The concentrations of AMPs in total suspended particulates (TSP) in Bandung and Osaka ranged from 1.03 to 14.27 particles/m 3 and from 0.63 to 3.29 particles/m 3 , respectively. AMPs in both locations were fragmented, with dominant Feret diameters ranging from 1 to 20 μm.