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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Environmental Sources Policy & Risk Sign in to save

Plastic in the air?! - Spider webs as spatial and temporal mirror for microplastics including tire wear particles in urban air

The Science of The Total Environment 2022 72 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 45 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Rebecca Süßmuth, Isabel Goßmann, Rebecca Süßmuth, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Isabel Goßmann, Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher Barbara M. Scholz‐Böttcher

Summary

Spider webs collected from urban environments were analyzed as passive biomonitors for airborne microplastics including tire wear particles, with results showing that webs captured diverse plastic types reflecting local traffic and industrial sources. The study proposes spider webs as a low-cost tool for spatial and temporal mapping of atmospheric plastic pollution.

Polymers
PE PET PMMA PP PS PVC rubber

Studies concerning quantities of microplastics (MP) including tire wear particles (TWP) contamination in air samples are scarce. Spider webs have been suggested as a cheap and easily accessible biomonitor particularly for inorganic contaminates. Here, we emphasize the potential of spider webs to gain insights in the spatial and temporal trends of MP in urban air. The samples, collected in a mid-sized German city, were processed with Fentons reagent and measured using pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for specific, polymer related indicator compounds. All samples contained TWP and other MP. The latter are detected and quantified as pyrolysis products of a polymer backbone. The results were expressed as clusters (prefix "C"). Determined polymer contaminations ranged from 11.4 μg/mg to 108 μg/mg spider web sample. The dominant polymer was C-PET (Ø 36.0% of total MP) derived most likely from textile fibers. Additionally, there was evidence for traffic-related contaminations. In particular car tire tread (Ø 40.8% of total MP) and C-PVC (Ø 12.0% of total MP) were found, with the latter presumably originating from paint used for road markings. Truck tire tread, C-PE, C-PP, C-PS, C-PMMA, and C-PC were also frequently found, but in much lower abundance (Ø <6.4% of total MP). Differences in contamination levels could be plausibly related to the sampling locations.

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