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Diurnal Dynamics of Atmospheric Microplastic Content in the Central Regions of Uzbekistan
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Combined exposure to microplastics and tetracycline during anaerobic sludge digestion enriches antibiotic resistance genes, with low-abundance bacteria acting as potential resistance gene hosts. This interaction represents an underappreciated pathway by which microplastics contribute to the global spread of antibiotic resistance through wastewater treatment systems.
Data on atmospheric microplastics (AMPs) in Central Asia remain scarce despite increasing documentation of aquatic contamination. This study assesses AMP dynamics in two distinct regions of Uzbekistan: Navoi (industrial) and Bukhara (residential). Sampling was conducted at a height of 15 m using a Lanzoni VPPS 2010 volumetric trap, with samples analyzed in two-hour intervals to evaluate diurnal variability. Identification followed standardized visual criteria and the “hot needle test.” Microplastics (fibers and fragments) were ubiquitous at both sites. Mean concentrations in Bukhara (0.83 ± 0.42 items/L) and Navoi (0.69 ± 0.35 items/L) showed no statistically significant difference (p = 0.5639). Morphological analysis revealed a prevalence of fibers (1000 – 4000 µm). Diurnal peaks during morning and early afternoon correlated with anthropogenic activity and arid-zone thermal convection. The results suggest an “urban carpet” effect in Bukhara equivalent to the industrial load in Navoi. This study establishes a vital baseline for the Kyzylkum region’s atmospheric MP cycles.
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Diurnal Dynamics of Atmospheric Microplastic Content in the Central Regions of Uzbekistan
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles floating in the air in two cities in Uzbekistan, with the highest levels during morning and afternoon hours when people are most active. Both the industrial city and residential city had similar amounts of these microplastics in the air, suggesting that everyday activities in neighborhoods create just as much plastic pollution as factories. This matters because people breathe in these plastic particles daily, but we still don't fully understand the long-term health effects of inhaling microplastics.
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Researchers simultaneously quantified atmospheric dry deposition of microplastics across nine Iranian cities with different climates over a seven-day period, finding deposition rates ranging from under 5 to over 100 MP/m²/hr dominated by fibres of polyethylene, PET, polypropylene, polystyrene, and nylon, with significant regional and climatic variation.
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Atmospheric microplastic deposition in a semiarid urban environment in northwest China ranged from 79.5 to 810.0 particles per square meter per day, with peak deposition in summer, fibres and fragments dominating, and source analysis pointing to local plastic products and waste as primary contributors.
Regional and climatic variations in atmospheric microplastic deposition: A study throughout Iran
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Dry deposition of atmospheric microplastics was measured simultaneously across nine Iranian cities with different climates and populations over one week, finding deposition rates from 5 to over 100 particles/m²/day, with population density and wind conditions as key drivers.
Microplastics in atmospheric dust samples of Sistan: sources and distribution
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Researchers collected atmospheric dust samples from residential and non-residential stations in Sistan, eastern Iran, selected according to wind direction and population density, and analyzed airborne microplastic characteristics using optical microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found that microplastic concentrations ranged from 6 to 11 particles per cubic meter, with distribution patterns reflecting both local sources and long-range wind-driven transport in this dust-prone region.
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