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Elucidating microplastic's seasonal occurrence in urban indoor and outdoor aerosol
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Scientists conducted the first year-long study of airborne microplastics in both indoor and outdoor air in Madrid, Spain, finding that indoor exposure was roughly four times higher than outdoor levels. Indoor microplastic concentrations averaged 124 particles per cubic meter per day, dominated by polystyrene and polyethylene from textiles and consumer products. The results suggest that people may face their greatest microplastic inhalation risk inside their own homes and workplaces.
This study investigates the seasonal presence of microplastics (MPs) in indoor and outdoor urban aerosols in Madrid, Spain, for the first time ever. Compared with the research conducted in the hydrosphere and lithosphere, atmospheric MPs pollution is considered relatively unexplored. To address this gap, PM aerosol samples were collected over one year using the standard EN 12341:2014 method. Two rapid quantification methods based on UV-assisted optical microscopy were used, with and without prior extraction. MPs were characterized morphologically using field-enhanced scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray detection (FE-SEM-EDX) and identified through μRaman spectroscopy and pyrolysis coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (PyGC-MS). The hybrid single-particle lagrangian integrated trajectory (HYSPLIT) modelling software was used to link MPs potential sources. The study found that indoor MPs exposure (124 ± 25 particles m/day) were higher than outdoors levels (29 ± 7 particles m/day). Indoors exposure was 88 ± 32 MPs m/day during the warm season (April-September) and 122 ± 14 MPs m/day in the cold season (October-March). Outdoors, exposure was relatively consistent year-round (29 ± 8 and 31 ± 6 particles m/day, warm and cold respectively). MPs composition in indoor samples and outdoor samples during the warm season was similar, mainly polystyrene (45.8 %), polyethylene (22.8 %), polyethylene terephthalate (20.0 %), and polymethylmethacrylate (11.4 %). However, outdoor MPs during the cold season showed notable differences. Fibres dominated over fragments, mostly smaller than 100 μm. The highest fibre-to-fragment ratios occurred in December outdoors (0.76) and February indoors (0.88). Atmospheric back-trajectory analysis indicated that many MPs likely originated from distant, especially oceanic, sources, confirming their long-range transport. Overall, the findings highlight significant indoor MPs exposure, especially in colder months, and suggest a general increase in MPs exposure over time across both environments.
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in indoor and outdoor air across different seasons and found levels were similar in both environments, averaging about 1.8–2.7 particles per cubic meter. The dominant plastic type was PET, and turbulent airflow and human activity — not season or day of week — were the main drivers of indoor microplastic levels.
Microplastics comparison of indoor and outdoor air and ventilation rate effect in outskirts of the Seoul metropolitan city
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Researchers measured airborne microplastics both indoors and outdoors in buildings near Seoul, finding that indoor concentrations were 1.8 times higher than outdoor levels. Polyester fibers from clothing and furnishings were the most common type, and lower ventilation rates led to higher indoor microplastic levels, meaning the air people breathe at home and work may be a significant source of microplastic exposure.
Long-term assessment of indoor and outdoor airborne microplastics deposition: size distribution and polymer characteristics
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Researchers found that indoor air had roughly ten times more microplastic particles settling out of it than outdoor air, with hallways especially prone to buildup, likely from foot traffic stirring up dust. Since most of these particles were small enough to potentially be inhaled deep into the lungs, and we spend most of our time indoors, this suggests indoor spaces may be a bigger source of microplastic exposure than previously assumed.
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This study provided one of the first comprehensive overviews of microplastic contamination in both indoor and outdoor air, establishing that microplastics are airborne and that indoor environments may have higher concentrations than outdoors due to synthetic materials and textiles. The findings raised new concerns about inhalation as a pathway for human microplastic exposure.
Microplastics Aloft: A comprehensive exploration of sources, transport, variations, interactions and their implications on human health in the atmospheric realm
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This review summarizes research on airborne microplastics and finds that indoor environments typically contain far more microplastic particles than outdoor air -- up to 760,000 particles per square meter per day indoors versus a maximum of about 1,159 outdoors. Sources include synthetic clothing, plastic manufacturing, and even ocean spray. Inhaled microplastics can reach deep into the lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, raising concerns about respiratory and cardiovascular health effects.
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