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Airborne microplastic contamination and health risks in Greater Cairo, Egypt
Summary
Researchers measured airborne microplastic contamination across Greater Cairo, Egypt, finding microplastic particles in the atmosphere at levels that pose potential health risks through inhalation. Urban and industrial areas had higher concentrations, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study used mathematical modeling to assess cancer and non-cancer health risks from breathing in these particles, highlighting that air pollution by microplastics is a significant concern for densely populated cities.
Air pollution by microplastics (MPs) is an increasingly concerning environmental issue, but the presence of MPs in the atmosphere and its potential health risks has not been studied in Greater Cairo. The sites were therefore selected during the winter season from the north to the south of the Cairo metropolitan area, representing urban and residential/industrial areas in terms of population, traffic, and industrial pressure. This was achieved through a combination of quantitative MP detection, mathematical modeling, and a risk assessment approach based on total suspended particulate matter (TSP) at these sites. The TSP concentration was investigated in the air and associated MP particles. The highest MP values were found at the study sites with higher population and more traffic than at lower locations. The spatial distribution of site concentrations was from high to low. Helwan site (87 particles/m) had the most MP, followed by Dokki (69 particles/m) and Nasr City (60 particles/m), and El-Nozha had the least MP during the investigation (30 particles/m). The morphology, composition, and size of these MPs in the samples were determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Various MP forms have been identified in these sites, including fibers, fragments, films, and pellets, with fragments being the most common. Three different MP polymers (PE, PP, and PS) were identified. The potential health risks posed by airborne MPs cannot be ignored when exposed to outdoor airborne substances at maximum annual levels. This study confirms the widespread existence of the inhaled MP in the air and provides a solid basis for future studies aimed at understanding real-world conditions of inhalation exposure to MP.