Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Sources and Circulation of Microplastics in the Aerosphere – Atmospheric Transport of Microplastics

This review examines sources, transport mechanisms, and deposition patterns of airborne microplastics in the atmosphere, finding that factors like wind, temperature, rainfall, population density, and human activities influence their abundance and long-distance dispersal.

2023 12 citations
Review Tier 2

Distribution and transport of atmospheric microplastics and the environmental impacts: A review

This review examines the distribution, transport, and environmental impacts of atmospheric microplastics, synthesizing evidence that airborne plastics are found globally from urban centers to remote polar regions. The authors identify deposition via precipitation as a major pathway by which atmospheric microplastics contaminate soil and water surfaces.

2022 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in the coastal zone: Characteristics and relationship with meteorological factors

Microplastics deposited from the atmosphere were sampled and characterized in a coastal zone, with analysis of meteorological factors including air humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and air mass trajectories. The study found measurable atmospheric microplastic deposition in the coastal environment, with weather patterns influencing deposition rates and particle characteristics.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 258 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Microplastic Transport

This review examines atmospheric transport of microplastics, covering emission sources including roads and oceans, the meteorological and particle-characteristic factors influencing transport and deposition, and the cycles by which microplastics are redistributed to remote environments including high-altitude and polar regions.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Microplastics: Inputs and Outputs

Researchers examined how microplastics enter and move through the atmosphere, finding that up to 8.6 megatons per year may be suspended in air above the oceans alone. The particles are launched into the air from ocean spray and land-based sources, then distributed by wind before returning to Earth through rain and dry deposition. The study highlights that atmospheric transport is a major pathway for spreading microplastic contamination to even the most remote regions of the planet.

2025 Preprints.org 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Dynamics of airborne microplastics, appraisal and distributional behaviour in atmosphere; a review

This review explores the sources, distribution, and behaviour of airborne microplastics in the terrestrial environment. Researchers summarize how factors like size, density, and atmospheric conditions influence microplastic transport and concentration in air. The study highlights that airborne exposure represents a significant and relatively understudied route of human microplastic intake, with particles capable of carrying organic pollutants that bioaccumulate through food webs.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics ride the atmosphere

Research confirms that microplastic particles are transported through the atmosphere over long distances, depositing in remote areas including the Arctic and high mountains. Atmospheric transport is now recognized as a major pathway spreading microplastic contamination to virtually every part of the planet.

2020 C&EN Global Enterprise 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Is atmospheric pathway a significant contributor to microplastics in the marine environment?

Researchers reviewed evidence for atmospheric transport of microplastics to and from marine environments, finding that wind-driven processes like sand storms, bubble bursts, and sea spray can eject microplastics from ocean surfaces into aerosols, making the atmosphere a significant but understudied pathway in the marine microplastic cycle.

2023 Emerging contaminants 4 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of Atmospheric Micro/Nanoplastics: Insights into Source and Fate for Modelling Studies

This review synthesizes current knowledge about how micro- and nanoplastics move through the atmosphere, covering their sources, transport mechanisms, and eventual deposition. Researchers found that atmospheric transport can carry these particles over long distances quickly, making it a major pathway for global plastic pollution spread. The study identifies key knowledge gaps needed for developing accurate models of airborne microplastic behavior.

2025 Current Pollution Reports 3 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Physical characteristics of microplastic particles and potential for global atmospheric transport: A meta-analysis

This meta-analysis pools data from multiple studies to examine the physical characteristics of airborne microplastics and how they travel through the atmosphere. The findings confirm that microplastics can be transported globally by wind, meaning people everywhere are breathing in these particles regardless of how far they live from pollution sources.

2023 Environmental Pollution 45 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic aging and adsorption in the atmosphere, and their associated impacts on various spheres of the earth: A review

This review examines how microplastics travel through the atmosphere and change during transport due to sunlight, wind, and interactions with other air pollutants. These aging processes alter the surface chemistry of microplastics, affecting which toxic chemicals they can absorb and carry to new locations. The atmospheric pathway is a major route for spreading microplastic contamination globally, including into remote areas and into the air people breathe.

2025 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluating Ecological Impacts and Atmospheric Fate of Microplastics: Ecological Perspectives and Challenges

Researchers review how microplastics spread through the atmosphere via wind and weather before settling into water bodies, soil, and plant life — creating pathways for human exposure through the food chain. The study highlights gaps in analytical methods and calls for standardized, accurate measurement techniques to better understand and address the full ecological threat of airborne microplastic pollution.

2024 Environmental Engineering and Management Journal 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Various Perspectives on Occurrence, Sources, Measurement Techniques, Transport, and Insights Into Future Scope for Research of Atmospheric Microplastics

This review synthesized current knowledge on atmospheric microplastics, covering their sources, occurrence across global regions, measurement techniques, and transport mechanisms, while identifying key research gaps for future investigation.

2023 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Relationship of Suspended Atmospheric Microplastics and Meteorological Parameters in Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur

Researchers examined the relationship between suspended atmospheric microplastics and meteorological parameters in Kuala Lumpur, finding that weather conditions including temperature, humidity, and wind patterns influence airborne microplastic concentrations.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Quick analysis of the influence of the monsoon on the concentration of microplastics in the air

Researchers analysed how monsoon rainfall affected atmospheric microplastic concentrations, finding that precipitation events redistributed plastic particles and temporarily increased concentrations of certain polymer types in air samples. The study identifies rainwater as both a carrier and a concentrating medium for atmospheric microplastics.

2025
Article Tier 2

A mechanistic approach to evaluating atmospheric deposition of micro- and nanoplastic particles

This study developed a theoretical framework to better understand how microplastic and nanoplastic particles move through the atmosphere and deposit onto land and water surfaces via wet and dry deposition. By drawing on knowledge from how other aerosols like mineral dust behave, the researchers identified key physical processes — including particle size, shape, and density — that govern how far microplastics travel and where they land. The work is important for modeling the global spread of microplastic pollution, including to remote regions far from pollution sources.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport

Researchers measured microplastic deposition in central London and found contamination in all samples, with rates ranging from 575 to 1,008 particles per square meter per day. Fibrous microplastics made up 92% of the particles, and 15 different polymer types were identified. Wind analysis revealed different source areas for fibrous and non-fibrous airborne microplastics, providing the first evidence that the atmosphere is a significant pathway for microplastic pollution in urban areas.

2019 Environment International 1094 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Microplastics: Perspectives on Origin, Abundances, Ecological and Health Risks

This review summarizes current knowledge about microplastics in the atmosphere, including their sources, how far they travel, and potential health effects from inhalation. Researchers found that airborne microplastics can carry toxic chemicals deep into the respiratory system and may contribute to respiratory problems and other health concerns. The study emphasizes that atmospheric microplastic pollution remains poorly understood due to a lack of standardized measurement methods.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Wet and Dry Deposition Flux Measurements of Atmospheric Microplastic Particles in Central Germany

Researchers measured both wet and dry atmospheric deposition of microplastic particles in central Germany across different weather conditions. The study shows that atmospheric microplastic fallout is a real pathway delivering plastic particles into terrestrial and aquatic environments.

2022 Research Square (Research Square) 6 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of Atmospheric Micro/Nanoplastics: Insights into Source and Fate for Modelling Studies

This review synthesizes current knowledge on sources, atmospheric transport, and environmental fate of micro- and nanoplastics in the atmosphere, identifying key knowledge gaps including the long-range transport potential, dry and wet deposition rates, and health implications of inhaled airborne plastic particles.

2025