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A Preliminary Moss-Based Assessment of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition at Selected Locations in North Macedonia
Summary
Scientists in North Macedonia used moss growing in different areas to soak up and measure tiny plastic particles floating in the air, since these microplastics are known to fall onto surfaces from the atmosphere. They found plastic bits in every single sample, with the most contamination near urban areas like Skopje, confirming that airborne microplastics are settling everywhere, not just in cities but in more remote spots too. While this study doesn't directly measure health effects, it adds to growing evidence that we're constantly breathing in and being exposed to these tiny plastic particles, wherever we live.
Atmospheric microplastics have emerged as an important environmental contaminant due to their widespread occurrence, persistence, and potential ecological and human health implications. However, information regarding atmospheric microplastic deposition in southeastern Europe remains extremely limited. The present study provides a preliminary moss-based assessment of atmospheric microplastic deposition at selected locations in North Macedonia. Moss samples were collected from sites representing different degrees of anthropogenic influence and analyzed following sample preparation procedures consistent with previous national-scale surveys. Microplastic particles were identified using micro-Fourier Transform Infrared (μ-FTIR) spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected in all investigated moss samples, confirming their widespread atmospheric deposition across the country. The highest concentration was recorded at Vodno–Skopje (16.72 MP g−1 dry weight), followed by Majdan (7.10 MP g−1) and Bojančište (3.29 MP g−1). Pronounced differences in polymer composition were observed among the sampling locations: Vodno–Skopje exhibited the greatest polymer diversity, with polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polylactic acid (PLA), and cellulose acetate (CA) all detected above their respective limits of detection, whereas Majdan was characterized almost exclusively by polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and Bojančište primarily by cellulose acetate (CA) and PLA. The detected microplastic concentrations were within the range of values reported in some European studies, although direct comparisons should be interpreted with caution because of the differences in sampling and analytical methodologies. The findings demonstrate the potential of moss-based biomonitoring as a complementary approach for assessing atmospheric microplastic deposition. However, studies covering a larger number of sampling locations and different temporal periods are required to further evaluate and validate this approach.