Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Insight into the size-resolved markers and eco-health significance of microplastics from typical sources in northwest China

Researchers characterized airborne microplastics and plasticizers emitted from five common sources in northwest China—plastic burning, fruit bag burning, road traffic, agricultural film, and livestock breeding—finding source-specific polymer and chemical profiles in PM2.5 and PM10 fractions.

2025 Atmospheric chemistry and physics
Article Tier 2

Reply on RC5

Researchers characterized microplastic source profiles and plasticizer emissions (phthalates, benzothiazoles, bisphenol A) from five pollution sources (plastic burning, traffic, agricultural film, livestock) in PM2.5 and PM10 aerosols across the Guanzhong Plain in northern China, providing source-resolved atmospheric microplastic data.

2025
Article Tier 2

Plastic burning: An important global source of atmospheric nanoplastic particles

Researchers conducted smoldering laboratory experiments with PVC, PP, LDPE, PET, and PS plastics and used aerosol mass spectrometry to characterise the physical and chemical properties of nanoplastic particles emitted, finding that plastic burning generates large quantities of nanoplastics and thermo-oxidation products that represent a significant but poorly quantified global source of atmospheric nano-sized plastic particles.

2025
Article Tier 2

Sources and distribution of atmospheric microplastics in Northwest China river valleys via land use

This study quantified suspended atmospheric microplastics across eight land use types in Lanzhou, northwest China, finding a mean abundance of 4.5 particles/m³ with peaks in industrial and residential areas. Land use type was the strongest predictor of MP concentration, highlighting urban and agricultural activities as key emission drivers.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Microplastics Emission Source Potentials and Deposition Patterns in Semi‐Arid Croplands of Northern China

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic emissions from croplands in semi-arid northern China, where wind erosion events are common. They found that fiber-shaped particles dominated airborne microplastics and that concentrations increased significantly when air masses passed over cropland surfaces. The study reveals that agricultural land in dry regions may be an underrecognized source of airborne microplastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics, sources and potential ecological risk of atmospheric microplastics in Lhasa city

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics collected at a monitoring site, identifying their sources, size distribution, polymer composition, and potential ecological risks from aerial deposition to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Micro- and Nanoplastics: Source Implications from Particulate Matter Composition

Researchers simultaneously measured airborne micro- and nanoplastics (AMNPs) and particulate matter (PM) across three sites in Japan in different seasons, identifying shared and distinct sources. AMNPs co-occurred with combustion-related PM components, providing evidence that airborne plastics partly originate from the same sources as fine particulate air pollution.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Microplastic atmospheric dustfall pollution in urban environment: Evidence from the types, distribution, and probable sources in Beijing, China

Researchers collected atmospheric dustfall samples across urban Beijing and analyzed the types, distribution, and likely sources of airborne microplastics. They found that synthetic fibers from textiles and fragments from various plastic products were the dominant forms, with concentrations varying by location and proximity to pollution sources. The study provides evidence that urban atmospheric microplastic pollution is widespread and likely linked to daily human activities and industrial processes.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Supplementary material to "Insight into the size-resolved markers and eco-health significance of microplastics from typical sources in northwest China"

Researchers provided supplementary data on pyrolysis products used to identify and characterize microplastics by size from typical pollution sources in northwest China, supporting a larger study on the environmental and health significance of different microplastic size fractions. This type of chemical fingerprinting helps determine where microplastics come from and how they break down in the environment.

2025
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal distribution and potential sources of atmospheric microplastic deposition in a semiarid urban environment of Northwest China

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.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Size Distributionof Micro-/Nanoplastic Particlesand Their Chemical Speciation in the Atmosphere of Shanghai, China

Researchers characterized the size distribution and chemical speciation of micro- and nanoplastic particles collected from environmental samples, finding a continuous size spectrum from microns to nanometers and detecting additive chemicals co-associated with the particles.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in atmospheric dust samples of Sistan: sources and distribution

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.

2022 Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of the Morphological and Chemical Profile of Different Families of Microplastics in Samples of Breathable Air

Researchers characterized the morphological and chemical profiles of airborne microplastics collected from breathable air samples, finding diverse polymer types and particle shapes and examining how these particles are transported through the atmosphere to the air people breathe.

2023 Molecules 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the external atmospheric input of microplastics: Two strategies based on polymer composition and aging characteristics

Researchers compared microplastic pollution in dust from a sparsely populated area on the Mongolian Plateau and a densely populated city, using polymer composition and aging characteristics to distinguish locally generated microplastics from those transported externally via long-distance atmospheric transport.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

First quantification and chemical characterization of atmospheric microplastics observed in Seoul, South Korea

Researchers conducted the first measurement of airborne microplastics across five outdoor sites in Seoul, South Korea, finding plastic particles everywhere from business districts to urban forests. Microplastic levels were higher in areas with more human activity and during weekdays versus weekends. Polypropylene and PET were the most common types, suggesting that everyday plastic products are a major source of airborne microplastic pollution in cities.

2023 Environmental Pollution 52 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution Characteristics of Atmospheric Microplastics in Typical Desert Agricultural Regions

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics in desert agricultural regions surrounding the Taklamakan Desert in Xinjiang, China, using both active and passive collection methods. Polypropylene and polyethylene were the dominant polymer types, with particles entering the atmosphere from agricultural plastic films.

2024 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Fine micro- and nanoplastics particles (PM2.5) in urban air and their relation to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Researchers measured ultrafine micro- and nanoplastics in urban air at the individual polymer level for the first time, finding correlations between airborne plastic particle concentrations and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, suggesting plastics act as carriers for toxic compounds.

2023 Atmospheric Environment 50 citations
Article Tier 2

A preliminary comparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario

Researchers compared microplastic types, sizes, and polymer compositions in atmospheric dry and wet deposition at multiple sites, assessing contributions to ecosystem contamination. The results showed that atmospheric deposition is a significant pathway for microplastic redistribution, particularly to remote areas.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in a rural region of North China Plain

Researchers investigated atmospheric microplastic deposition in a rural area of the North China Plain, finding significant quantities of microplastics deposited through both dry and wet pathways, with fibers and polyethylene being the dominant types.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal Distribution of Airborne Microplastics at an Urban Roadside

Researchers conducted a year-long sampling program for airborne microplastics at an urban roadside site in Zhengzhou, China, finding that traffic volume, seasonal variation, and meteorological conditions influenced the temporal distribution and polymer composition of atmospheric microplastics. Micro-Raman spectroscopy identified the dominant polymer types present in traffic-adjacent air.

2025 Johnson Matthey Technology Review
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the atmospheric of the eastern coast of China: different function areas reflecting various sources and transport

Atmospheric sampling at two sites in a Chinese coastal city found microplastics suspended in the air at both downtown and industrial locations, but with different dominant sources — lifestyle and consumer products in the city center versus industrial activity in the industrial zone. The finding that microplastics are transported through the atmosphere confirms that people in urban areas are inhaling plastic particles regardless of proximity to industrial facilities.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A preliminary comparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario

Researchers compared microplastic types, sizes, and polymer compositions in atmospheric dry and wet deposition samples from different settings. The study found that atmospheric deposition is a meaningful pathway for microplastic dispersal, with variation in particle characteristics across sites.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments of a developing country in South Asia: abundance, distribution, morphology, and possible sources

Researchers quantified airborne microplastic concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments in a South Asian developing country, characterizing particle abundance, size distribution, morphology, and potential sources, finding significant microplastic air pollution in a lower-middle-income country context.

2022 Figshare 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Comment on egusphere-2025-1821

This peer review comment on an atmospheric microplastics study characterizes source profiles and emission factors for eight polymer types and three plasticizer classes from plastic burning, fruit bag burning, road traffic, agricultural film, and livestock breeding sources.

2025