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Widespread distribution of PET and PC microplastics in dust in urban China and their estimated human exposure
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Researchers collected indoor and outdoor dust samples from 39 major Chinese cities and found widespread contamination with PET and polycarbonate microplastics. Indoor dust contained significantly higher concentrations than outdoor dust, suggesting that household products and furnishings are major sources. The study estimated daily human exposure levels through dust ingestion and inhalation, identifying young children as the most vulnerable group.
Dust is a fate of many contaminants and may be an important medium for the human exposure to these contaminants. Microplastics (MPs) have been observed in dust in previous studies. However, the mass concentrations of dominant MPs in dust and the exposure risk to human remain unclear. In this study, indoor and outdoor dust samples were collected from 39 major cities of China. The mass concentrations of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polycarbonate (PC) MPs were determined through alkali-assisted thermal depolymerization-liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry, and the shape and component distribution of MPs were analyzed by optical microscopy and micro-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. PET MPs were detected in all the samples at high concentrations of 1550-120,000 mg/kg (indoor) and 212-9020 mg/kg (outdoor) and PC MPs were detected in approximately 70% of the samples, with median concentrations of 4.6 mg/kg (indoor) and 2.0 mg/kg (outdoor). Fiber was the main shape of suspected MPs, and polyester (including PET) was identified as an important component in MPs from dust. Indoor dust is a non-negligible source of human exposure to MPs, accounting for a geomean daily intake of 17,300 ng/kg-bw of PET MPs in children.
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Researchers analyzed indoor house dust from 286 homes across 12 countries for PET and polycarbonate microplastics. They found PET-based microplastics in every sample tested, at concentrations up to 120,000 micrograms per gram, while polycarbonate was detected at lower levels. The study estimates that infants may ingest significant amounts of PET microplastics daily through dust exposure, highlighting indoor environments as an important but often overlooked source of microplastic contact.
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Researchers measured microplastic levels in indoor dust across different types of buildings, finding that residential apartments had the highest concentrations at over 1,100 particles per gram of dust. Polyester fibers were the most common type in homes and hotels, while offices and classrooms had more polyethylene and polypropylene. The study estimated that infants face the highest daily microplastic intake from breathing indoor dust, roughly 30 times more per body weight than adults.
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