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Atmospheric microplastics in PM2.5 from 2010 to 2024 in Beijing: Type-specific trends and driving factors
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The first 15-year continuous monitoring study of microplastics in Beijing's breathable PM2.5 air particles found a steady increase from 2010 to 2024, averaging 264 nanograms per cubic meter, with PVC, polystyrene, and polypropylene as the dominant types. Because these particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and carry toxic plastic additives, rising airborne microplastic concentrations in megacities represent a growing public health concern.
Atmospheric microplastics in respirable PM2.5 (MP2.5) have attracted widespread attention, yet their characteristics, major sources, and factors influencing their emission remain poorly understood. We present the first long-term (2010-2024) observation of atmospheric MP2.5 in Beijing, quantified with pyrolysis-gas chromatography / mass spectrometry. Our investigation of type-specific trends and driving factors revealed an overall increasing trend in MP2.5 concentration, with an average level of 264 ng/m3 and a peak of 417.6 ng/m3 in 2021. The distinct trends of MP2.5 and PM2.5 concentrations suggest that their major sources differ, necessitating different regulation measures for each. PVC (polyvinyl chloride), PS (polystyrene), PP (polypropylene), PE (polyethylene), and PA66 (polyamide 66) are the predominant types of MP2.5, differing markedly from the pattern in dustfall or total suspended particulate matter. PS, PP, and PP correlated positively with express delivery volume and total retail sales of consumer goods, implicating packaging material as a potential major source. PA66 and PVC, which are widely used in disposable medical supplies such as protective suits, responded sensitively to the COVID-19 pandemic. Our findings reveal that socioeconomic activities strongly influence the long-term evolution of MP2.5 patterns, and provide a scientific basis for related risk assessments.
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Researchers conducted the first size-resolved, multi-method assessment of airborne micro- and nanoplastics in Beijing, finding that inhalation exposure nearly triples during the heating season (374–926 ng/day vs. 60–344 ng/day), with polyethylene dominating all size fractions and coal combustion the likely seasonal driver.
Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban agglomeration: Spatiotemporal dynamics, influencing factors and ecological risks
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Researchers tracked microplastic pollution falling from the air across a major Chinese urban region (Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei) over a full year, finding that busier, wealthier, more populated areas had significantly more tiny plastic particles raining down from the sky, especially in spring. Most of these particles were tiny plastic fibers, often from synthetic textiles, small enough to potentially be inhaled, and the study found "moderate" to "high" ecological risk levels at various sites, highlighting that the air we breathe in cities is a real and measurable source of microplastic exposure that changes with location and season.
Microplastic atmospheric dustfall pollution in urban environment: Evidence from the types, distribution, and probable sources in Beijing, China
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Researchers collected atmospheric dustfall samples across urban Beijing and analyzed the types, distribution, and likely sources of airborne microplastics. They found that synthetic fibers from textiles and fragments from various plastic products were the dominant forms, with concentrations varying by location and proximity to pollution sources. The study provides evidence that urban atmospheric microplastic pollution is widespread and likely linked to daily human activities and industrial processes.
A Toxicological Assessment of Airborne Microplastics in Beijing
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Researchers assessed the toxicological properties of airborne microplastics collected in Beijing, finding that atmospheric accumulation of these particles is associated with oxidative capacity, with certain size fractions warranting particular concern as contributors to inhalation risk.
Abundance of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban atmosphere
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Scientists measured microplastics and nanoplastics in the air of two major Chinese cities and found concentrations reaching hundreds of thousands of particles per cubic meter. Road dust being kicked up by traffic and rainfall washing particles out of the sky were the two biggest drivers of atmospheric plastic pollution. These findings suggest that city residents are inhaling significant amounts of plastic particles every day, with potential implications for respiratory and overall health.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.