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Microplastics in Indoor Environments and Associated Health Risks
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This review pulls together existing research showing that the air inside your home or office likely contains more tiny plastic particles (microplastics) than the air outside, coming from everyday things like household dust, synthetic fabrics, cleaning products, and packaging. Since most of us spend the majority of our time indoors, this matters because we're likely inhaling and ingesting more of these particles than previously realized, though scientists still don't fully understand the health risks. The researchers stress that more studies are needed to pin down exact dangers and figure out how to reduce this exposure at home.
Microplastics (MPs) are widely recognised as a significant contributor to indoor environmental pollution. Considering that individuals spend a significant amount of time in indoor environments, understanding the occurrence and origins of MPs in these settings is crucial for evaluating potential health hazards and developing mitigation strategies. Nonetheless, comprehensive research and data on MP levels are scarce in the context of indoor environments. This study provides an in-depth overview of indoor MP pollution, encompassing their sources of emission, potential health risks, and strategies for mitigation. Numerous reputable research databases, including Web of Science, Google Scholar, ScienceDirect, and Scopus, were used in the comprehensive literature search conducted for this study. This review synthesises evidence indicating that indoor environments tend to exhibit significantly higher levels of MPs compared to outdoor areas. Besides, this review explores the various sources and mechanisms that contribute to indoor airborne MP pollution, such as surface characteristics, cleaning and packaging materials, household items, ventilation systems, airflow turbulence, and human activities. Furthermore, this review highlights the potential health hazards associated with human exposure to MPs and emphasises the need to develop effective solutions to mitigate indoor MP pollution. Ultimately, this chapter has demonstrated that numerous areas and sectors require additional research. It has identified gaps that must be addressed.
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Occurrence, human exposure, and risk of microplastics in the indoor environment
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This review examines the often-overlooked issue of microplastic contamination in indoor environments, where people spend up to 90 percent of their time. Researchers found that indoor microplastic concentrations can be substantial, originating from synthetic textiles, furniture, and building materials. The study highlights a significant gap in understanding human microplastic exposure and calls for more research on the health risks of breathing in and ingesting these particles at home and work.
Systematic Review on Indoor Microplastics: Unveiling Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Implications
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This systematic review reveals that indoor environments are a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure. People spend most of their time indoors, where microplastics shed from textiles, furniture, and packaging accumulate in dust and air, meaning your home and office may be major contributors to the microplastics you breathe and ingest daily.
Indoor Microplastics and Microfibers
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This review examines microplastic and microfiber contamination in indoor environments like homes, schools, and workplaces, finding that indoor air and dust often contain more microplastics than outdoor air. Indoor sources like furniture, textiles, and synthetic materials constantly shed tiny plastic fibers that people inhale, ingest, and absorb through skin contact. The review highlights that indoor microplastic exposure, especially through breathing, may be a more significant route of human exposure than previously thought.
Indoor Airborne Microplastics: Tracing Indoor Sources of Microplastic Pollution in Living and Working Space.
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Researchers swabbed dust from dorm rooms, labs, and other indoor spaces and found tiny plastic fibers everywhere, likely shedding from everyday items like clothing and carpets. Since we spend most of our time indoors breathing this air, these findings suggest our homes and workspaces could be a major—and largely overlooked—source of the microplastics we inhale, though more research is needed to know exactly how this affects our health.
Review of microplastics in the indoor environment: Distribution, human exposure and potential health impacts
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This review comprehensively analyzes microplastic contamination in indoor environments, where most people spend the majority of their time. Researchers found that indoor exposure to microplastics comes from multiple sources including dust, air, drinking water, and food, with finer particles posing the greatest concern because they can enter the bloodstream and organs. The findings suggest that indoor microplastic exposure represents a meaningful but understudied health risk that requires further research into mitigation strategies.
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