Microplastics in the atmosphere: transportation and impact on humans

Recently, there has been a growing concern about microplastics (MPs), which are pervasive environmental pollutants with high persistence. Recent discoveries of MPs in the atmosphere in urban, suburban, and even distant regions far from MP source regions raise the possibility of long-distance atmospheric transport for MPs. Little research on airborne MPs has been done due to persistent restrictions on detectable size, analysis technologies, and a lack of uniform sampling and analytical processes (MPs). As a result, there is still much to be learned about the facts surrounding the incidence, worldwide geographic distribution, destiny, and hazards that airborne MPs pose to ecosystems and human health. This chapter will carefully discuss the origins, modes of transportation , distribution, and characterization of MPs in the atmosphere. Besides, the dangers associated with airborne MPs will also be mentioned. Finally, future research directions about MPs in the atmosphere will be discussed.