Plastic-Derived Organic Aerosols in the Atmosphere: Beyond Micro- and Nanoplastics

Microplastics in ambient air: a review of atmospheric abundance, human exposure and urgent research needs

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This review pulled together findings from 84 studies to show that tiny plastic bits called microplastics are floating in the air everywhere, indoors, outdoors, in cities, and even in remote places like Antarctica, with tiny plastic fibers being the most common type found. Since we're breathing this stuff in daily, early research links it to lung inflammation, cell damage, and metabolic problems, though scientists say we still need more studies to understand exactly how much exposure is harmful and over what timeframe.

A New Contaminant Superhighway? A Review of Sources, Measurement Techniques and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics

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Researchers reviewed evidence that the atmosphere acts as a major transport route for microplastics, with airborne plastic particles — mostly fibers smaller than 1 mm — detected in indoor air, outdoor air, and street dust worldwide, suggesting humans may inhale significant quantities daily.

Microplastics and nanoplastics in the marine-atmosphere environment

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Researchers quantified marine-atmospheric microplastic fluxes and found that between 0.013 and 25 million metric tons of micro- and nanoplastics may be transported through the atmosphere and deposited into oceans annually. They propose a global observation strategy with harmonized sampling methods to reduce the high uncertainty in these estimates.

Atmospheric Microplastics: Research Progress on Monitoring, Environmental Processes, and Health Risks

Understanding the dynamics and implications of airborne microplastics in atmosphere

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Researchers reviewed the sources, distribution, and health risks of airborne microplastics, finding that fibrous particles raise particular concern due to prolonged residence in organisms, while smaller particles remain understudied, and calling for standardized sampling methods and long-term epidemiological studies to fill critical knowledge gaps.