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Review: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR7
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This review argues that ordinary people — particularly householders — should be brought into scientific research on airborne microplastics and microfibres, because homes are a major source of these particles and researchers cannot access them without community cooperation. Incorporating citizen science, the authors suggest, could help measure indoor exposure levels, identify high-risk behaviours, and inform policies that reduce the amount of microplastics people inhale every day.
Microplastics are ubiquitous in our environment but their presence in air is less well understood. Homes are likely a key source of airborne microplastics and microfibres to the environment owing to the frequent use and storage of plastics and textiles within them. Studying their presence, concentration and distribution in these environments is difficult without the participation of citizens due to accessibility challenges. Few studies have examined the intricacies of the prevalence of indoor microplastics and microfibres or the link between indoor exposure and behavioural and regulatory approaches that could reduce their concentrations. The application of a quintuple innovation helix framework, within which a co-creative citizen science research methodology is applied, provides an opportunity for citizens to shape the scientific method, ensuring that methods are accessible and appropriate for widespread use and designed by the citizen, for the citizen. Exploring behaviours and motivations in plastic and textile use by citizens with industry may reduce the generation of these particles. Future studies should consider the importance of citizen inclusion when designing research strategies for measuring and reducing microplastic concentrations in homes, enabling a nuanced understanding of their generation and distribution and facilitating the development of appropriate behavioural, industrial and regulatory messaging and mitigative measures.
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Author comment: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR6
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This paper argues that homes are a major but understudied source of airborne microplastics and microfibres, and proposes that citizen science — where residents actively participate in research design and data collection — is essential for gaining access to domestic environments and understanding the behavioral factors that drive exposure. The approach could help link indoor plastic and textile use to particle concentrations and inform practical regulatory and consumer guidance.
Decision: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R0/PR5
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This paper proposes a citizen science framework for studying airborne microplastics and microfibres, particularly in indoor environments, where homes are identified as major sources. By involving citizens in both study design and data collection, the approach addresses the access challenges of monitoring private spaces and creates opportunities for behavioural change in how people use plastics and textiles. Indoor airborne microplastics are an overlooked exposure route that may affect human respiratory health.
Recommendation: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R1/PR8
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This recommendation paper argues that studying airborne microplastics and microfibres inside homes requires direct involvement of citizens, because researchers cannot easily access private living spaces. It proposes a citizen-science framework where residents help design and carry out monitoring, which would generate richer data on indoor exposure and help identify practical behaviour changes — such as reducing synthetic textile use — that could lower microplastic levels where people spend most of their time.
Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research
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A citizen science study investigated airborne microplastics and microfibres in home environments, which are likely major sources of indoor plastic emissions given the volume of plastics and textiles stored and used there. Involving residents in sampling improved spatial coverage and community awareness of microplastic exposure in everyday settings.
Author comment: Embedding citizens within airborne microplastic and microfibre research — R0/PR1
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This commentary argues for citizen science approaches to studying indoor airborne microplastics and microfibres, proposing a co-creative research framework where citizens shape the methods, helping to uncover household exposure patterns and guide behavioral and regulatory interventions.
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