Identification of microplastic present in the atmospheric aerosol of the Port of Veracruz

In recent years, the study of microplastics has garnered increased interest due to their impact on ecosystems and human health. However, most research has focused on characterizing this emerging contaminant in sedimentary, biological, and aqueous matrices, with very few studies dedicated to determining its presence in atmospheric aerosol. To address this knowledge gap, a campaign was conducted from May 23 to June 7, 2023, to collect microplastic samples in PM2.5 particulate matter using an active method with a Teflon filter at a flow rate of 16 L/min in the Port of Veracruz. Under the BA310Pol optical microscope at 5x and 10x magnification, each filter was analyzed to determine the presence and morphology of microplastics. The average concentration of microplastics was 0.041 MP m-3 ± 7.06, with 292 particles identified as fibers, film-like, fragments, films, and spheres. Among these, fibers and film-like particles were the most abundant. Chemical characterization was performed using FTIR, revealing PET as the more dominant plastic in the samples. On the other hand, toxic pollutants can adsorb to microplastic particles, so the presence of PAHs was also determined.The benzo[a]anthracene, chrysene, and benzo[a]pyrene are the most abundant. The findings highlight the necessity for further research into the presence of microplastics in the air, particularly in the breathable fraction, as it poses a potential threat to public health.