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Textile sources as the main contributor to atmospheric microplastics in Bahia Blanca, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Summary
Airborne microplastics collected in rainfall samples in Bahia Blanca, Argentina were traced primarily to textile sources, especially synthetic fibers released during washing and manufacturing. This study highlights that the atmosphere is an underappreciated route for microplastic dispersal, carrying particles far from their original sources. Textile-derived microfibers in rainfall can deposit microplastics onto soil and water surfaces across wide areas.
The environmental fate of MPs has been extensively demonstrated in all environmental spheres. However, attention to the atmosphere is still considered incipient. The aim of the present work was to assess the presence of airborne microplastics deposited within the rainfall in Bahia Blanca City at the SW Buenos Aires, Argentina. Sample collection was conducted on March, August, September, October, November and December 2021 using an active rain collector consisting of a glass funnel and a PVC pipe which opens uniquely during rain events. Results obtained showed that all rain samples contained MPs. Considering all samples, an average concentration of 194.18 MPs m-2d-1 was found. The highest abundance was observed in November (354 MPs m-2d-1) while the lowest in March (59 MPs m-2d-1). Considering the size, range was from 0.1 mm to 3.82 mm being the most abundant articles less than 1 mm (86%). The dominant form of microplastics found were fibers (97.3%), followed by fragments (1.6%). Color blue predominated in the total samples (31.5%), followed by light blue (26%) and yellow (16%). On the other hand, the existence of small particles ( Also see: https://micro2022.sciencesconf.org/427283/document