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Atmospheric microplastics in PM2.5 from 2010 to 2024 in Beijing: Type-specific trends and driving factors
Summary
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.