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Microplastics as emerging atmospheric pollutants: a review and bibliometric analysis
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Researchers reviewed and bibliometrically mapped the growing body of evidence that microplastics travel through the atmosphere, finding they are detected globally in outdoor and indoor air — meaning humans and ecosystems are exposed to plastic particles not just through food and water but through every breath.
Microplastics are ubiquitously present in various environments; thus, they have become a noteworthy issue by researchers. The present study aimed to provide state-of-the-art on microplastic studies and in detail to review the researches on atmospheric microplastic pollution in terms of occurrence, distribution, sampling, analysis, sources, and transport. The results of the bibliometric analysis showed that the annual output in microplastic research has increased, especially during the last 5 years. The research hot spots in the microplastic topic are marine environment, surface water, freshwater, wastewater, toxic effects, and fate and transport of microplastics. The number of studies investigating atmospheric microplastic pollution is still so limited, although microplastics in the atmosphere became one of the notable subjects. Natural and synthetic fibers were mainly detected in the studies investigating microplastic pollution in the air. Textile clothes, anthropogenic activities, and fragmentation of large plastics were indicated as the main sources, while the wind was pointed out as the predominant transport mechanism of atmospheric microplastics. Detailed and comprehensive studies on the determination of the fate and transport of microplastics in the air as well as their health effects are needed.
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Microplastics in ambient air: a review of atmospheric abundance, human exposure and urgent research needs
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This review pulled together findings from 84 studies to show that tiny plastic bits called microplastics are floating in the air everywhere, indoors, outdoors, in cities, and even in remote places like Antarctica, with tiny plastic fibers being the most common type found. Since we're breathing this stuff in daily, early research links it to lung inflammation, cell damage, and metabolic problems, though scientists say we still need more studies to understand exactly how much exposure is harmful and over what timeframe.
A New Contaminant Superhighway? A Review of Sources, Measurement Techniques and Fate of Atmospheric Microplastics
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Researchers reviewed evidence that the atmosphere acts as a major transport route for microplastics, with airborne plastic particles — mostly fibers smaller than 1 mm — detected in indoor air, outdoor air, and street dust worldwide, suggesting humans may inhale significant quantities daily.
A Review of Atmospheric Microplastics: Sources, Characteristics, and Detection Method
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This review synthesizes current knowledge on atmospheric microplastics, covering their diverse emission sources, physical and chemical aging processes during atmospheric transport, and the range of detection methods used across studies. Airborne microplastics represent a direct inhalation exposure route for humans and an underquantified vector for long-range plastic pollution dispersal, yet inconsistent detection methodologies and complex atmospheric aging mechanisms limit our ability to accurately assess health and climate impacts.
Understanding the dynamics and implications of airborne microplastics in atmosphere
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Researchers reviewed the sources, distribution, and health risks of airborne microplastics, finding that fibrous particles raise particular concern due to prolonged residence in organisms, while smaller particles remain understudied, and calling for standardized sampling methods and long-term epidemiological studies to fill critical knowledge gaps.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.