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Pollution characteristics and potential health effects of airborne microplastics and culturable microorganisms during urban haze in Harbin, China
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Researchers simultaneously measured airborne microplastics and culturable microorganisms during urban haze events in Harbin, China. They found that areas with heavy traffic had the highest microplastic concentrations, that levels were higher at night than during the day, and that microplastics and certain bacteria tended to co-occur in the air. The study suggests that haze conditions may increase human exposure to both airborne microplastics and potentially harmful microorganisms at the same time.
In this study, active sampling technology was used to collect microplastics (MPs) and microorganisms simultaneously on haze days in Harbin, China. Airborne MPs concentrations in Junior high school (162.4 ± 44.6 particles/m) with high vehicular and pedestrian traffic was higher than those in University (63.2 ± 21.8 particles/m) and Park (12.8 ± 5.5 particles/m). More airborne MPs were detected in the night samples than in the morning and noon samples. The majority (69.06 %) of airborne MPs measured less than 100 μm, with fibers (69.4 %) being the predominant form. Polyesters and polyethylene were the dominant polymers. In addition, airborne MPs concentrations were positively correlated with microorganisms and PM concentrations, and the health hazards associated with microorganisms and MPs exposure via inhalation far exceeded those associated with skin contact, which can serve as a theoretical foundation for considering MPs as indicators of air quality in the future.
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