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Comparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario

Environmental Pollution 2024 25 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.

Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Adrián López-Rosales, Antonio Di Guardo, Parisa Falakdin, Parisa Falakdin, Parisa Falakdin, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, J.M. Andrade, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Elisa Terzaghi, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, Adrián López-Rosales, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Adrián López-Rosales, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, Elisa Terzaghi, Elisa Terzaghi, Elisa Terzaghi, Elisa Terzaghi, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Adrián López-Rosales, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Adrián López-Rosales, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Elisa Terzaghi, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Antonio Di Guardo, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, Antonio Di Guardo, Antonio Di Guardo, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Antonio Di Guardo, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, J.M. Andrade, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Antonio Di Guardo, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Antonio Di Guardo, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Antonio Di Guardo, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo J.M. Andrade, Soledad Muniategui‐Lorenzo

Summary

Researchers compared microplastic contamination in outdoor air deposits and on plant leaf surfaces in an urban area and found that both sampling methods detected similar types and sizes of microplastic particles. Fibers were the most common shape found, and polyester and polyethylene were among the most frequently identified polymers. The study suggests that plant foliage could serve as a practical biomonitor for tracking airborne microplastic pollution in cities.

The rising trend of plastic production in last years and the inadequate disposal of related waste has raised concerns regarding microplastic-related environmental issues. Microplastic particles disperse by means of transport and deposition processes to different ecosystems and enter food chains. In this paper, atmospheric deposition and foliage samples of two species (i.e., Hedera helix and Photinia glabra) were collected and analysed for the quantity and identity of microplastics (MPs). A preliminary methodology to treat foliage samples and subsequently identify MPs using a quantum cascade laser IR spectrophotometer is presented. The treatment of airborne samples involved filtration, mild digestion, concentration, and transfer onto reflective slides whereas that for foliage involved washing, concentration, and transference of putative MPs onto reflective slides. Fibers and fragments were differentiated according to their physical features (size, width, height, etc.) and calculating derived characteristics (namely, circularity and solidity). The preliminary results obtained suggest a good agreement between atmospheric-deposited and foliage-retained MPs, showing the capability of leaves to act as passive samplers for environmental monitoring.

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