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Simultaneous Measurement and Compositional Analysis of Atmospheric Microplastics in Taiwan Utilizing Optical and Chemical Methods
Summary
Researchers measured airborne microplastics across three sites in Taiwan — rural, near a waste incinerator, and in a traffic-heavy area — finding the highest concentrations at the traffic site, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant plastic types. Estimated daily human exposure through breathing and accidental ingestion ranged in the tens of particles per kilogram of body weight, underscoring that air is a significant but often overlooked route of microplastic exposure.
Abstract Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a critical global environmental concern. This study investigated atmospheric MPs in Taiwan from April to December 2021 across three sites—Rural, Municipal Waste Incinerator (MWI), and Traffic—using a 25 μm size threshold. MPs were identified using μ-FTIR and Py-GC–MS. Concentrations were highest at the Traffic site (0.26 #/m 3 ), followed by MWI (0.15 #/m 3 ) and Rural (0.13 #/m 3 ), with no detection at the background site (Mt. Lulin). Dry and wet deposition fluxes ranged from 4.29 to 11.8 #/m 2 /day. Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Polyamide (PA) were the most common polymers, with site-specific variations suggesting sources such as traffic, incineration, and industrial activities. Py-GC–MS detected PE, PTFE, PEI, and various additives. Estimated human exposure via inhalation ranged from 0.031–0.131 #/kg-bw/day, and ingestion from 0.010–0.335 #/kg-bw/day. These findings highlight the presence of airborne MPs in both urban and rural environments, underlining the need for regulatory action and further research on health impacts. Graphical Abstract