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The Effect of Climate Conditions on the Availability of Microplastic Particles in Air
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A seasonal study of atmospheric microplastics in Baghdad found higher concentrations in summer than spring or winter, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the most common polymers and fragments and pellets dominating at both highway and residential sites. The seasonal variation suggests that temperature and low rainfall increase airborne microplastic concentrations, meaning hot, dry urban environments may expose residents to elevated inhalation risks during summer months.
The present research aimed to investigate the prevalence and characteristics of atmospheric microplastics across different seasons in Baghdad, highlighting the potential effects of temperature and rainfall variations on their abundance. The results showed that the total number of microplastics during the summer season was higher on Al-Duora Road highway (1165 microplastics number/day; 38.2%) and Muhammed Al-Qassim Road highway (1151 microplastics number/day; 47.4%) compared to spring and winter on these roads. Additionally, the distribution of microplastic types indicated a high prevalence of fragment and pellet types across all seasons. In contrast, the residential areas recorded higher levels of microplastics in summer for Al-Karkh District (1170 microplastics number/day; 43.8%) and Al-Rusafa District (1140 microplastics number/day; 43.7%) than in spring and winter. Regarding polymer composition, Fourier transform infrared analysis identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the most common polymers in the studied regions, along with others such as nylon (polyamide), polyvinyl chloride, low-density polyethylene, and polyurethane. These results show that the amount and type of atmospheric microplastics change with the seasons. In conclusion, the observed seasonal variations indicate a potential impact of rainfall and temperature on microplastic abundance. Nonetheless, this relationship must be interpreted with caution, as it was not statistically validated in this study.
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