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Quantifying Airborne Micro- and Nanoplastics at the Aerosol Observatory of the University of Vienna
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Scientists in Vienna are measuring tiny plastic particles in the air we breathe and found several types of plastics, including pieces from car tires, floating in the atmosphere. These microscopic plastics are small enough to get deep into our lungs when we breathe, but researchers don't yet know what health effects this might cause. This study is helping scientists understand how much plastic pollution is actually in the air around us, which is an important first step in figuring out if it's harmful to human health.
Understanding the atmospheric concentrations and properties of micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) is essential to evaluate not only their sources, transport pathways and sinks, but also the effects they have on the environment, climate and human health. Especially as these effects are still largely unknown.Here we present first results of atmospheric MNPs in PM2.5 (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 μm) collected on filters at the Aerosol Observatory (35 m agl.) of the University of Vienna between 12.2024 and 12.2025. We aim to quantify the share of MNPs in PM2.5, their type and mass concentration over four seasons, and determine their sources (i.e. local versus long-range transport) by coupling observations with meteorological parameters, and FLEXPART Langrangian transport modelling.In this study, daily PM2.5 filter samples are collected on quartz fibre filters using low volume filter sampler (SEQ47 50, Sven Leckel GmbH; 24 hr resolution) over a course of one year, and are subsequently analyzed with the thermal desorption – proton transfer reaction- mass spectrometer (TD-PTR-MS), for MNP mass concentration and chemical composition. The carbonaceous aerosol fractions (i.e. organic and elemental carbon) are analyzed using an offline thermo-optical method utilized by the Sunset Analyzer (Sunset Laboratory, Inc., USA) and follow the EUSAAR II protocol. Here we present the pilot results that focus on the analysis of the daily PM2.5 filter samples, as well as the preliminary results of the full-scale study that covers weekly pooled samples over the course of one year.Preliminary results of the pilot study which covers ten daily PM2.5 filter samples with high (4.78-10.06 μg/m3) and low (~ 1 μg/m3) organic carbon loading show the presence of the following polymer types: polyethylene (PE), polyethylene telephtalate (PET), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PCV) and tire wear. High correlation (p
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Microplastic Deposition Flux in Vienna
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Scientists measured tiny plastic particles falling from the air in Vienna and found that most came from car tire wear rather than clothing fibers like previous studies suggested. These microscopic plastic pieces are constantly raining down on cities, likely coming from local traffic and potentially traveling long distances through the atmosphere. This matters because we're breathing this plastic-contaminated air daily, though more research is needed to understand the full health effects.
Quantifying Atmospheric Small Micro- and Nanoplastics (MNP) in The Netherlands
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Scientists measured tiny plastic particles floating in the air in the Netherlands and found five common types of plastics that we breathe in daily, including materials from plastic bags, bottles, and food containers. These microscopic plastic pieces are so small they can get deep into our lungs and potentially enter our bloodstream, which could pose health risks. The research helps us better understand how much plastic pollution we're exposed to through the air we breathe, especially in areas near major cities.
The four Seasons of Micro- and Nanoplastic in the Air
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Scientists monitored tiny plastic particles in the air for a full year in the Austrian Alps and found six common types of plastics floating in the atmosphere year-round. These microscopic plastic pieces can travel long distances through the air and reach even remote mountain areas, meaning people everywhere are likely breathing them in. This research helps us understand how much plastic pollution exists in our air, which is important since inhaling these particles could affect human health.
Atmospheric Microplastics: Research Progress, Hotspots and Prospects of Global Environmental Problems
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Tiny plastic particles are floating in the air all around us, indoors, outdoors, even in remote places, and we're likely breathing them in every day. This review of over 280 studies finds that while scientists know these particles can travel long distances and get into our lungs, research methods vary so much that we still can't say exactly how much is truly harmful to human health. The takeaway: airborne microplastics are a real and growing concern worth watching, but more consistent research is needed before we know the actual health risks.
Physico-Chemical Characteristics, Instrumental Analyses, and Transportation of Airborne Microplastics
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This review paper pulls together what scientists currently know about tiny plastic particles floating in the air we breathe, both indoors and outdoors. These particles come from sources like clothing fibers, tire wear, and ocean spray, but researchers still don't fully understand how much we're exposed to or what it means for our health. The takeaway: airborne microplastics are everywhere, and more research is needed to know the real risks.
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