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An Atmospheric Chemistry Perspective on Airborne Micro- and Nanoplastic Particles
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This perspective paper highlights that airborne micro- and nanoplastics are an understudied form of air pollution that undergoes chemical changes in the atmosphere, potentially making the particles more harmful when inhaled. The authors call for atmospheric scientists and microplastic researchers to work together to better understand health risks from breathing in these particles.
Micro- and nanoplastic particles (MNPPs) are emerging pollutants with significant environmental impacts due to their persistence, increasing concentrations, and potential health risks. Most MNPP studies have focused on identifying, quantifying, and assessing their ecotoxicological impacts in water or soil. However, the atmosphere is crucial in transporting and chemically transforming MNPPs. Further, well-established aerosol particle characterization techniques are underutilized and inconsistently applied in existing atmospheric MNPP studies. This perspective synthesizes the existing literature and addresses future research needs unique to atmospheric MNPPs, highlighting the need to bridge the microplastics and atmospheric aerosol communities to better understand their sources, chemical transformations, transport mechanisms, as well as their health effects and ecological impacts, which differ from those in soil and water. Advancing research in these areas requires standardized methods and a multidisciplinary approach to comprehensively assess MNPP interactions across environmental compartments, providing essential insights into their environmental fate and risks.
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Advancing the Science of Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Atmosphere: From Measurement and Sources to Transformation and Health Effects
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This paper reviews existing research on tiny plastic particles, called micro- and nanoplastics, found in air. It covers how scientists measure them, where they come from, how they change over time, and what is known about possible health effects.
Atmospheric chemistry of microplastics: Transport, environmental impacts, and governance
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This article reviewed the atmospheric chemistry of microplastics, examining their sources, environmental transport, deposition, chemical transformations in the atmosphere, and governance frameworks. It found that airborne MPs travel globally, undergo photochemical aging, and deliver plastic-bound pollutants far from their emission sources.
Atmospheric Microplastics and Nanoplastics: A Systematic Review of Sources, Transport, Chemical Transformation, Pollutant Interactions and Climate Implications
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Tiny plastic particles from car exhaust, synthetic clothing, and industrial waste don't just pollute land and water—they're floating in the air we breathe, and this review pulls together what scientists currently know about them. These particles can travel long distances, break down into even smaller nanoplastics, and pick up toxic chemicals like heavy metals and "forever chemicals" (PFAS) along the way, potentially making them more harmful when inhaled. While researchers agree this airborne plastic pollution likely affects both our health and the climate, they say better tools are still needed to fully measure the risks, so this remains an area to watch r
Degradation of Microplastics and Nanoplastics: An Underexplored Pathway Contributing to Atmospheric Pollutants
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Researchers reviewed how microplastics and nanoplastics degrade in the atmosphere through mechanical, photochemical, and microbial processes, releasing gaseous byproducts and serving as carriers for toxic substances. The study found that atmospheric degradation increases the particles' ability to interact with pollutants like heavy metals and persistent organic chemicals, amplifying health risks. Evidence indicates that airborne microplastics may also influence climate by affecting cloud formation and releasing greenhouse gases during photodegradation.
Microplastics and Nanoplastics in the Atmosphere: Sources, Transformation, Deposition and Their Potential Role as Cloud Condensation Nuclei
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This review summarizes existing published studies on tiny plastic particles (microplastics and nanoplastics) in the air: where they come from, how they change over time, and whether they can help form clouds. It also points out gaps in current research and suggests areas for future study.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.