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Airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments of a coastal city in Eastern China
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Researchers measured airborne microplastic levels in both indoor and outdoor environments in a Chinese coastal city and found that indoor air contained about eight times more microplastics than outdoor air. Fragments smaller than 100 micrometers were the most common type, and urban areas had higher levels than rural areas. The study estimates that a person's annual exposure to airborne microplastics could reach over one million particles, with most exposure occurring indoors where people spend the majority of their time.
Microplastics (MPs) in marine and terrestrial environments have been intensively studied, but the dynamics of airborne MPs remains limited. Existing studies on atmospheric MPs are mostly derived from collection of atmospheric deposition, whereas direct measurements of airborne MPs are scarce. However, the abundance of airborne MPs is more relevant for evaluating human inhalation exposure risk. Herein, airborne MPs in indoor and outdoor environments from urban and rural areas of a coastal city in eastern China were investigated. MP concentrations (mean±SD) in indoor air (1583 ± 1180 n/m) were an order of magnitude higher than outdoor air (189 ± 85 n/m), and airborne MP concentrations in urban areas (224 ± 70 n/m) were higher than rural areas (101 ± 47 n/m). MPs smaller than 100 µm dominated airborne MPs, and the predominant shape of airborne MPs was fragments, as opposed to fibers. The larger MP size fractions contained a higher proportion of fibers, whereas the smaller size fractions were nearly exclusively composed of fragments. The health risk caused by ubiquitous airborne MPs should not be discounted as the maximum annual outdoor exposure of airborne MPs can reach 1 million/year, while indoor exposure may be even higher due to higher indoor airborne MP concentrations.
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Airborne Microplastic Concentrations in Five Megacities of Northern and Southeast China
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Researchers used uniform sampling methods to measure airborne microplastic concentrations across five major cities in northern and southeastern China. They found that indoor environments generally had higher microplastic levels than outdoor air, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study provides some of the first directly comparable data on airborne microplastic exposure across multiple cities, suggesting that people in densely populated areas face meaningful inhalation risks.
Microplastics comparison of indoor and outdoor air and ventilation rate effect in outskirts of the Seoul metropolitan city
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Researchers measured airborne microplastics both indoors and outdoors in buildings near Seoul, finding that indoor concentrations were 1.8 times higher than outdoor levels. Polyester fibers from clothing and furnishings were the most common type, and lower ventilation rates led to higher indoor microplastic levels, meaning the air people breathe at home and work may be a significant source of microplastic exposure.
Airborne Microplastics in Indoor Environments of Nanjing, China: Characteristics and Inhalation Exposure
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Researchers found that indoor air, like classrooms, offices, and garages, contains way more tiny plastic particles (nearly 5 times more) than outdoor air, and most of these particles are so small they can stay floating and be breathed in easily. Since people spend most of their time indoors, and different rooms had different levels and types of plastic exposure, this suggests that how much plastic we're breathing in daily depends heavily on where we spend our time, not just a general "indoor average." More research is needed to understand what these inhaled plastics mean for our health, but this study shows the exposure is real and varies by location.
Microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments in China: Characteristic and human exposure risk assessment
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Researchers measured airborne microplastics at five locations in China, including indoor and outdoor sites, and found that indoor concentrations were consistently higher, with dining halls having the most contamination. Polyamide (nylon) particles were the most common type found, and dormitories contributed the most to daily respiratory exposure because people spend so many hours sleeping there. The study estimates that men aged 31 to 40 face the highest daily microplastic inhalation exposure.
Assessing the concentration, distribution and characteristics of suspended microplastics in the Malaysian indoor environment
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Researchers measured airborne microplastic levels inside offices, classrooms, apartments, and homes across Malaysia over six weeks. Microplastics were found in every indoor environment tested, with fibers being the most common type, and people in homes were estimated to inhale more microplastics daily than those in offices or classrooms. The findings highlight that indoor air is a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure for people.
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