A Short Review On Content And Composition Of Airborne Microplastics

Microplastic pollution is becoming a global threat due to overexploitation and lack of plastic waste management. For a long period, microplastic studies have focused on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, while microplastic in the air (airborne microplastic) has only gotten attention since 2015. This study aims to give an overview of past studies on the research method, the content and concentration of airborne microplastic as well as the possible risk on human health. Passive sampling methods by atmosphere fallout are common for outdoor air sampling while active sampling with vacuum pumps brings more benefits in shortening the sampling process for indoor air. The procedure of microplastic in the air is similar to other environments with the application microscope and stereomicroscope with $\mu$ Raman or $\mu$ FTIR. The characteristics, deposition rate, and concentration of microplastic vary depending on the location, sampling technique, and type of air, with indoor showed a much higher concentration of microplastic compared to outdoor air. There is no solid proof of the relationship between microplastic and human health, even though researchers have suggested these issues. However, with the potential of deposition and resuspension, along with its lightweight properties, airborne microplastics show the potential to affect the quality of air, water, and soil environment even in areas far away from pollution points. Vietnam, being a developing country with a high exploitation of plastic production, is viewing plastic as a threat to the environment. Laws and regulations to prevent the leakage of plastic waste and microplastic have been delivered, but mostly focus on the aquatic environment. With the deteriorating air quality and the increase in the amount of microplastic in the environment, airborne microplastic study is a suitable direction for microplastic study in Vietnam.