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Ubiquitous exposure to microfiber pollution in the air
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Researchers measured airborne microfiber concentrations at an intercity bus terminal and a university campus, finding that lightweight plastic fibers from wastewater and textiles freely float in indoor and outdoor air and can be inhaled like other fine particulate pollutants.
Microplastics (MPs) are among major micro-pollutants ( $ < 5 $ mm) which can be found in water sources and air in substantial quantities, and which still are not covered by standard extraction and analysis procedures. Even though several researches have demonstrated the presence in water sources of different MP fragments, the most common type of MP in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) and in the atmosphere are MP fibers. MP fibers (MFs) present in the atmosphere deriving from a number of sources can settle on the ground, but they can also float due to wind and air flows, reaching the respiratory system of humans like other pollutants. The objective of the present study is to make an evaluation of the amount of microplastic fibers that freely float in the air due to their light weight and nano-, micro-size. To quantify the presence of MPs in the air, their amount was evaluated after collecting them in two sites: an intercity terminal and a university campus.
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From atmosphere to lungs: health risks of airborne microplastics in public spaces
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Sampling air from bus terminals, supermarkets, hospitals, and other public spaces in Kerala, India revealed microplastic concentrations up to 960 particles/kg, with PVC fibers posing the highest cancer risk index and infants facing the greatest estimated daily intake. The findings show that densely occupied public spaces in tropical, underrepresented regions present significant airborne microplastic inhalation risks, particularly for vulnerable age groups.
Health Implications of Microplastic Pollution in Air and Water
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Researchers review how microplastics in air and water expose humans through inhalation, ingestion, and skin contact, linking airborne particles to respiratory inflammation and lung disease risk, while ingested particles may disrupt gut microbiota, translocate to organs, carry toxic co-pollutants, and cause hormonal disruptions — with pregnant women and children at heightened risk.
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Researchers reviewed the occurrence, distribution, and health hazards of airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments, finding that inhalation is a significant and underappreciated exposure route with potential respiratory and systemic health consequences.
Impacts of Microfiber Pollutants on the Global Ecosystem
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Researchers reviewed the global spread of microfibers shed from synthetic textiles and other plastic sources, documenting their adverse effects on organisms across multiple ecosystems and highlighting them as an underappreciated but widespread form of plastic pollution.
Synthetic Fabrics and Microfiber Pollution–An Assessment of Their Global Impact
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Researchers assessed how washing synthetic clothing made from acrylic and polyester releases microfibers into wastewater, contributing to widespread environmental contamination as these tiny plastic threads pass through treatment systems and enter waterways and eventually the food chain.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.