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From atmosphere to lungs: health risks of airborne microplastics in public spaces
Summary
Sampling air from bus terminals, supermarkets, hospitals, and other public spaces in Kerala, India revealed microplastic concentrations up to 960 particles/kg, with PVC fibers posing the highest cancer risk index and infants facing the greatest estimated daily intake. The findings show that densely occupied public spaces in tropical, underrepresented regions present significant airborne microplastic inhalation risks, particularly for vulnerable age groups.
Airborne microplastics (MPs) are an emerging class of particulate pollutants with profound implications for environmental and human health. This study presents the first comprehensive assessment of airborne MPs across indoor and outdoor public spaces in Kerala, India—a tropical region underrepresented in global MPs research. Air dust samples were collected from locations including bus terminals, supermarkets, educational institutions, government offices, libraries, laboratories, and hospitals. Analyses using stereomicroscopy and Raman spectroscopy revealed variations in abundance, shape, and polymer composition. The highest MP concentrations were found in bus terminals (960 ± 53 particles/kg), followed by supermarkets, while the hospitals showed the lowest concentrations (111 ± 10 particles/kg). Fibres (47.2%) were the commonly occurring morphology of microplastics, while polyethene (37.8%) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were the dominant polymers. Health risk assessments, such as the Polymer Risk Index (PRI), Estimated Daily Intake (EDI), and Microplastic Cancer Risk (MPCR), highlighted the major health threats posed by Poly Vinyl Chloride (PRI: 1333.4; MPCR: 11.51 mg/kg/day) and polystyrene. Infants were the most vulnerable group (EDI: 6.06 mg/kg/day) to MPs pollution than adults. These findings underscore the growing risk of MP inhalation in densely occupied public areas and call for targeted interventions, including improved plastic waste management, source control of indoor particles, and reduced plastic usage in high-traffic spaces. The study provides critical baseline data for airborne MPs in tropical India and supports the need for regulatory and epidemiological actions. First report of airborne MPs in diverse indoor and outdoor public sites in India. PVC and PS were identified as high-risk polymers based on PRI and MPCR. Infants had the highest EDI, indicating greater health vulnerability. MPCF and MPPLI were used to quantify site-specific MP pollution. Findings support targeted waste policy and public health measures. From Atmosphere to Lungs: Health Risks of Airborne Microplastics in Public Spaces.