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Global Research Trends and Knowledge Map of Atmospheric Microplastics: History, Evolution and Atmospheric Science Perspectives
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This study doesn't test health effects directly — instead, it reviews over a decade of scientific research on tiny plastic particles floating in our air (atmospheric microplastics), mapping how quickly this field has grown, especially since 2020. The big takeaway is that scientists are only just beginning to understand how much plastic pollution we're breathing in every day, and there's still a lot we don't know about where it comes from and what it does to our bodies — meaning more research and answers are still on the way.
Atmospheric microplastics (AMPs), as a globally prevalent environmental pollutant, have attracted increasing attention from the academic community in the past decade. This study aims to systematically explore the historical background, development trajectory, and evolutionary trends of global atmospheric microplastic research through bibliometric analysis. Based on 1385 relevant studies retrieved from the Web of Science core collection, knowledge graph analysis was conducted using the CiteSpace and VOSviewer tools. The results indicate that research on AMPs has gone through three distinct stages: the budding exploration period (2014–2016), the steady growth period (2016–2019), and the explosive expansion period (2020–2025). In the initial stage, people lacked understanding of AMPs, with a low publication volume and research focused on “occurrence and source”. During the steady growth stage, the number of publications increased, and researchers’ research areas focused on source analysis. During the explosive growth stage, the number of publications reached its peak, and research on AMPs gradually developed from the initial description of phenomena and method development to a comprehensive research direction involving multiple regions, media, and methods. It is worth noting that China has the highest research output on AMPs globally and occupies a dominant position in atmospheric microplastics research. Therefore, this study establishes a knowledge framework for global atmospheric microplastics research, identifies current research gaps, and provides comprehensive references for subsequent academic exploration and environmental governance practices.
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Tiny plastic particles are floating in the air all around us, indoors, outdoors, even in remote places, and we're likely breathing them in every day. This review of over 280 studies finds that while scientists know these particles can travel long distances and get into our lungs, research methods vary so much that we still can't say exactly how much is truly harmful to human health. The takeaway: airborne microplastics are a real and growing concern worth watching, but more consistent research is needed before we know the actual health risks.
Atmospheric Microplastics: Perspectives on Origin, Abundances, Ecological and Health Risks
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This review summarizes current knowledge about microplastics in the atmosphere, including their sources, how far they travel, and potential health effects from inhalation. Researchers found that airborne microplastics can carry toxic chemicals deep into the respiratory system and may contribute to respiratory problems and other health concerns. The study emphasizes that atmospheric microplastic pollution remains poorly understood due to a lack of standardized measurement methods.
Microplastics in the Atmosphere
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This review summarizes the current state of knowledge on microplastic pollution in the atmosphere, covering sources, transport, deposition, and potential health effects of inhaled airborne microplastics. The authors note that initial research focused on marine environments but atmospheric microplastic pollution is a rapidly growing concern.
A global atmospheric microplastics dataset and model-assisted insights into their atmospheric emissions
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Scientists created the first global map of tiny plastic particles floating in our air and found they're everywhere—even in remote areas far from cities. These microscopic plastic bits can travel huge distances through the atmosphere and may pose health risks because they can carry harmful chemicals into our lungs when we breathe. The research shows that most airborne microplastics come from land-based sources rather than the ocean, helping us better understand how plastic pollution spreads around the planet.
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This review examines the growing concern about nanoplastics in the atmosphere and their potential effects on human health, an area that has received far less attention than microplastics in water or soil. Researchers found that airborne nanoplastics can penetrate deep into the lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream due to their extremely small size. The study identifies critical knowledge gaps and calls for more research on inhalation exposure pathways and long-term health consequences.
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