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Atmospheric microplastics: Global status with emphasis on studies from Indian environments
Summary
This review pulls together years of global research on microplastics floating in our air, finding that most studies come from Asian countries—especially China—while India, despite having some of the world's most polluted cities, has surprisingly little research on this topic. Since we breathe air constantly, airborne microplastics are a potential health concern worth understanding, but this paper highlights that scientists in developing countries like India need to catch up on studying what's actually in the air people are inhaling. The takeaway: we don't yet have enough data to fully understand the risks in heavily polluted, high-population regions, which is a gap that needs addressing for public health planning.
A comprehensive analysis of microplastics (MPs) in the atmospheric region across various nations from 2015 to 2024 revealed that around 62.7% of the published studies on atmospheric MPs were reported from Asian countries. This dominance may be attributed to Asia's significant role in producing and receiving huge amounts of plastic waste, contributing to higher MPs generation and an increased focus on atmospheric MPs research. In Asian countries, China contributes the largest proportion of studies, accounting for approximately one-fourth of the total studies. This is followed by countries such as Iran, Indonesia, India, and many others. However, this review primarily focused on studies conducted in India, where the presence of some of the world’s most polluted cities significantly increases the potential of airborne MPs. Research on atmospheric MPs in developing countries like India remains in its primitive stage, with limited records and only a few reported studies compared to other environmental compartments. Additionally, this review compiled studies on MPs across diverse environmental mediums, emphasizing polymer peak identification using advanced analytical techniques such as Raman spectroscopy and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. India, as one of the most polluted countries with ongoing challenges of improper waste management, presents a serious case for evaluating airborne MPs. By systematic compilation and analysis of all available Indian studies, this review addresses an important gap in the existing literature. Overall, the findings enhance region-specific understanding and provide a basis for future research and policy measures in other developing regions facing similar environmental issues.