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Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Detection Methods
Environmental Sources
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There's something in the air: A review of sources, prevalence and behaviour of microplastics in the atmosphere
The Science of The Total Environment2023
340 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 60
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephen D. Burrows,
Stephen D. Burrows,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Stacey O’Brien,
Stacey O’Brien,
Stacey O’Brien,
Stacey O’Brien,
Stacey O’Brien,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Jake O’Brien,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Stacey O’Brien,
Stacey O’Brien,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stacey O’Brien,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Xianyu Wang,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Stacey O’Brien,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Jake O’Brien,
Jake O’Brien,
Jake O’Brien,
Jake O’Brien,
Stephen D. Burrows,
Stacey O’Brien,
Kevin V. Thomas
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Stephanie Wright,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Stacey O’Brien,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Kevin V. Thomas
Stacey O’Brien,
Kevin V. Thomas
Jake O’Brien,
Jake O’Brien,
Cassandra Rauert,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Jake O’Brien,
Kevin V. Thomas
Francisca Ribeiro,
Kevin V. Thomas
Jake O’Brien,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Kevin V. Thomas
Jake O’Brien,
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Xianyu Wang,
Stacey O’Brien,
Stephanie Wright,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephen D. Burrows,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephen D. Burrows,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Xianyu Wang,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Kevin V. Thomas
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Cassandra Rauert,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Stephen D. Burrows,
Stephen D. Burrows,
Jake O’Brien,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Jake O’Brien,
Kevin V. Thomas
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Stacey O’Brien,
Xianyu Wang,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Xianyu Wang,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Xianyu Wang,
Xianyu Wang,
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Xianyu Wang,
Kevin V. Thomas
Cassandra Rauert,
Kevin V. Thomas
Francisca Ribeiro,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Francisca Ribeiro,
Kevin V. Thomas
Francisca Ribeiro,
Francisca Ribeiro,
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Cassandra Rauert,
Stephanie Wright,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Stephanie Wright,
Kevin V. Thomas
Stephanie Wright,
Stephanie Wright,
Jake O’Brien,
Cassandra Rauert,
Elvis D. Okoffo,
Kevin V. Thomas
Summary
This review compiled data from 124 studies to provide a comprehensive picture of microplastics in the atmosphere, including ambient air, deposited particles, dust, and snow. Researchers found microplastics are widespread in the air we breathe, with fibers being the most common shape detected. The study suggests that atmospheric transport is an important but understudied pathway for spreading microplastic contamination across environments.
Literature regarding microplastics in the atmosphere has advanced in recent years. However, studies have been undertaken in isolation with minimal collaboration and exploration of the relationships between air, deposition and dust. This review collates concentrations (particle count and mass-based), shape, size and polymetric characteristics for microplastics in ambient air (m3), deposition (m2/day), dust (microplastics/g) and snow (microplastics/L) from 124 peer-reviewed articles to provide a holistic overview and analysis of our current knowledge. In summary, ambient air featured concentrations between <1 to >1000 microplastics/m<sup>3</sup> (outdoor) and <1 microplastic/m<sup>3</sup> to 1583 ± 1181 (mean) microplastics/m<sup>3</sup> (indoor), consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed between indoor and outdoor concentrations or the minimum size of microplastics (p > 0.5). Maximum microplastic sizes were larger indoors (p < 0.05). Deposition concentrations ranged between 0.5 and 1357 microplastics/m<sup>2</sup>/day (outdoor) and 475 to 19,600 microplastics/m<sup>2</sup>/day (indoor), including polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate. Concentrations varied between indoor and outdoor deposition (p < 0.05), being more abundant indoors, potentially closer to sources/sinks. No difference was observed between the minimum or maximum reported microplastic sizes within indoor and outdoor deposition (p > 0.05). Road dust concentrations varied between 2 ± 2 and 477 microplastics/g (mean), consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene. Mean outdoor dust concentrations ranged from <1 microplastic/g (remote desert) to between 18 and 225 microplastics/g, comprised of polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polypropylene. Snow concentrations varied between 0.1 and 30,000 microplastics/L, containing polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene. Concentrations within indoor dust varied between 10 and 67,000 microplastics/g, including polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene. No difference was observed between indoor and outdoor concentrations (microplastics/g) or maximum size (p > 0.05). The minimum size of microplastics were smaller within outdoor dust (p > 0.05). Although comparability is hindered by differing sampling methods, analytical techniques, polymers investigated, spectral libraries and inconsistent terminology, this review provides a synopsis of knowledge to date regarding atmospheric microplastics.