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Microplastics in the Atmospheric Deposited Dust Collected from Different Traffic Intersections in Dhaka City
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Air samples collected at 15 major traffic intersections in Dhaka, Bangladesh, contained microplastics at deposition rates of up to 5.78 million particles per square meter per day, among the highest atmospheric microplastic levels reported in urban areas globally. The particles were predominantly polyethylene and nylon fibers, consistent with traffic and textile sources. This first-of-its-kind data for Dhaka highlights that residents of densely trafficked cities are inhaling substantial quantities of microplastics daily, with unknown health consequences.
Plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, known as microplastics, can infiltrate the environment from a variety of sources. This study aimed to assess the presence of microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere at fifteen major traffic intersections in the greater Dhaka city from July to August 2022.The deposition rate (DP) of MPs was calculated and the observed DPs value ranged from 1.11×106 MPs/m2/day to 5.78×106 MPs/m2/day with a portion of microplastics exhibiting fluorescence activity. Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy was used to analyze the functional groups present in microplastics. The identified polymer compositions of MPs were polyethylene (PE), Nylon-6 and natural polymers (cellulose and rubber). The current study highlights the data and knowledge gaps on the atmospheric transport of microplastics and their impact to the deterioration of overall urban air quality. Dhaka Univ. J. Sci. 72(2): 07-14, 2024 (July)
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