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Summary
Researchers studying air quality in northern China found that people living in rural areas breathe in far more microplastics and plastic-related chemicals (called plasticizers) than city dwellers—up to nearly 7 times more in some cases—largely from everyday contact with plastic products. This higher exposure translated into significantly greater health risks for rural residents, including both general health concerns and cancer risk, suggesting that plastic pollution isn't just a city problem and that rural communities may need more attention and protection when it comes to air quality policies.
Abstract. Atmospheric microplastics (MPs) and plasticizers are emerging contaminants requiring systematic research on urban-rural exposure inequality. This study examined MPs and plasticizers in PM2.5 across urban-rural and indoor-outdoor environments in Northern China's Guanzhong Plain. The 24 h time-weighted exposure concentrations for MPs and plasticizers were 3.6 and 6.8 times higher, respectively, in rural areas than in urban areas. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) exhibited the greatest disparity in urban-rural MPs exposure. Plasticizer exposure was overwhelmingly dominated by phthalates, with di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) reaching exceptionally high concentrations in rural indoor air (≈ 600 ng m-3), far exceeding urban levels (10.4 times). Rural residents experienced consistently higher inhalation exposure to MPs and plasticizers, resulting in substantially elevated health risks, with non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks both 6.9 times higher than the urban populations. The volume-normalized oxidative potential (DTTv) was significantly higher in rural than in urban environments (10.8 vs. 1.79 nmol min-1 m-3) and strongly correlated with most MPs and plasticizer species (r > 0.7). Source apportionment revealed that contacting plastic products accounted for 51.7 % of the MPs and plasticizers exposure in rural areas, nearly double the urban value of 27.6 %. In contrast, transportation-related source contributed only 5.9 % in rural areas but 22.6 % in urban areas. These results demonstrate clear urban–rural inequality in MPs and plasticizers exposure and related health effects, highlighting the need for exposure-based and equity-aware assessment frameworks and interventions for air emerging contaminants, especially for disadvantaged rural areas.