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Microplastic occurrence in settled indoor dust in schools
The Science of The Total Environment2021
121 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.
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Frank J. Kelly,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Rosa Busquets
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Frank J. Kelly,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Fatemeh Zarei,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Rosa Busquets
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Frank J. Kelly,
Frank J. Kelly,
Farid Moore,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Behnam Keshavarzi,
Mehdi Zarei,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Farid Moore,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Mehdi Zarei,
Farid Moore,
Rosa Busquets
Farid Moore,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Frank J. Kelly,
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Farid Moore,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Mohammad Javad Nematollahi,
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Mehdi Zarei,
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Frank J. Kelly,
Rosa Busquets
Summary
Researchers measured microplastic contamination in settled indoor dust collected from 28 schools and found an average of 195 particles per gram of dust. The most common particles were white polyester and polypropylene fibers likely shed from textiles and furnishings. The study highlights that children in school settings face meaningful microplastic exposure through dust inhalation and incidental ingestion.
This study examines for the first time the characteristics and human exposure of microplastics (MPs) in settled indoor dust in schools. An average of 195 MPs·g of dust were detected in settled indoor composite dust samples from 28 schools in Shiraz. White-transparent microfibres with lengths 500-1000 μm were the most abundant type of MP found among the samples examined. Polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene MPs were dominant across all types of MP found including microfibres. MPs had generally smooth morphology with sharp or regular edges which could have been released to the environment as primary MPs. Among all sampling sites, higher concentrations of MPs were found in the south and centre of the city. These were areas affected by high population density, high traffic load and high presence of industrial units and workshops. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) showed a positive strong correlation between sampling sites and MP physical characteristics. The PCA plots revealed that MP sheets and fragments were prevalent in sites in the North of Shiraz, whereas microfibres were mainly associated with sites in the South. The levels of MPs in the South of Shiraz were greater than in the rest of the country and the wind direction and topography were found to be important factors affecting the MP distribution observed. Compared to other population groups, elementary school students had relatively high exposure risk to MPs. This study reveals that microfibres are widespread in Shiraz' schools and pose a high exposure risk to MPs for young students.