0
Article Tier 2 Sign in to save

Microplastics in air: Are we breathing it in?

Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health 2017 1097 citations

No summary available — this paper's abstract is not included in the open metadata provided by the publisher. Learn why →

More Papers Like This

Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Air and Their Health Hazard

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

Article Tier 2

Microplastics in ambient air: a review of atmospheric abundance, human exposure and urgent research needs

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

Article Tier 2

Health Implications of Microplastic Pollution in Air and Water

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

Article Tier 2

A Research on Microplastic Presence in Outdoor Air

AI summary Read the abstract

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in outdoor air, confirming that these tiny plastic particles are airborne pollutants present in open environments in significant quantities. This finding suggests that humans may inhale microplastics on a routine basis, adding atmospheric exposure to the dietary routes already documented in food and water.

Article Tier 2

From atmosphere to lungs: health risks of airborne microplastics in public spaces

AI summary Read the abstract

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.

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.

Email me about

Share this paper