Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Study of suspended microplastics in indoor air to assess human exposure through inhalation

Researchers studied suspended microplastics in indoor air to evaluate human exposure through inhalation. The study measured airborne microplastic concentrations in indoor environments, contributing to the growing body of evidence that inhalation represents a significant and underappreciated route of human microplastic exposure.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Study of suspended microplastics in indoor air to assess human exposure through inhalation

Researchers investigated suspended microplastics in indoor air to assess the extent of human exposure through inhalation. The study quantified airborne microplastic particles in indoor settings, providing data on a potentially important but understudied route of daily microplastic intake for the general population.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Review Tier 2

Indoor microplastics: a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis

This review summarizes research on microplastic pollution inside buildings, where people spend most of their time. Indoor environments generally have higher microplastic concentrations than outdoors, with fiber-shaped particles from synthetic textiles being the most common type. Since people inhale and ingest these particles daily, indoor microplastic exposure may be a significant and underappreciated route of human health risk.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics in the Atmosphere: An Overview on Sources, Analytical Challenges, and Human Health Effects

This review examines microplastic pollution in the atmosphere, covering both indoor and outdoor sources and the challenges of measuring airborne particles. Researchers found that indoor environments, where people spend most of their time, can have particularly high concentrations of microplastics from synthetic textiles and household items. The study highlights that inhaling airborne microplastics is an important but under-studied route of human exposure.

2024 Atmosphere 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Aloft: A comprehensive exploration of sources, transport, variations, interactions and their implications on human health in the atmospheric realm

This review summarizes research on airborne microplastics and finds that indoor environments typically contain far more microplastic particles than outdoor air -- up to 760,000 particles per square meter per day indoors versus a maximum of about 1,159 outdoors. Sources include synthetic clothing, plastic manufacturing, and even ocean spray. Inhaled microplastics can reach deep into the lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, raising concerns about respiratory and cardiovascular health effects.

2024 Earth-Science Reviews 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics: Occurrence, sources, fate, risks and mitigation

This review compiles findings from over 140 studies on airborne microplastics, covering their sources, distribution, and health risks in both indoor and outdoor environments. Researchers found that indoor environments often have higher microplastic concentrations than outdoor air, with textiles and building materials being major sources. The study highlights growing evidence that inhaled microplastics may pose respiratory health risks and calls for standardized measurement methods.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the indoor environment

This review examines microplastic contamination in indoor environments, noting that people are continuously exposed to microplastics in household dust, air, and from flooring, furniture, and textiles. Indoor microplastic exposure is a key route of human inhalation and ingestion that has received less attention than environmental contamination.

2020 UBibliorum repositorio digital da ubi (University of Beira Interior)
Article Tier 2

Review of microplastics in the indoor environment: Distribution, human exposure and potential health impacts

This review comprehensively analyzes microplastic contamination in indoor environments, where most people spend the majority of their time. Researchers found that indoor exposure to microplastics comes from multiple sources including dust, air, drinking water, and food, with finer particles posing the greatest concern because they can enter the bloodstream and organs. The findings suggest that indoor microplastic exposure represents a meaningful but understudied health risk that requires further research into mitigation strategies.

2023 Chemosphere 50 citations
Review Tier 2

Critical review on airborne microplastics: An indoor air contaminant of emerging concern

This review summarizes existing research on microplastics floating in indoor air, finding that synthetic textiles, flooring materials, and increased use of plastic protective equipment since the pandemic are major sources. Indoor microplastic levels can be higher than outdoor levels, and inhaling these particles has been linked to respiratory, immune, and nervous system concerns. The findings highlight that people face significant microplastic exposure simply from breathing the air in their own homes and workplaces.

2023 Environmental Research 47 citations
Article Tier 2

First overview of microplastics in indoor and outdoor air

This study provided one of the first comprehensive overviews of microplastic contamination in both indoor and outdoor air, establishing that microplastics are airborne and that indoor environments may have higher concentrations than outdoors due to synthetic materials and textiles. The findings raised new concerns about inhalation as a pathway for human microplastic exposure.

2015 HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe) 49 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Systematic review of microplastics and nanoplastics in indoor and outdoor air: identifying a framework and data needs for quantifying human inhalation exposures

This systematic review is the first to examine microplastic levels in both indoor and outdoor air and estimate how much people inhale. The findings suggest we are breathing in microplastic particles daily, with indoor air often containing higher concentrations due to synthetic textiles and household materials.

2024 Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology 90 citations
Article Tier 2

Impact of indoor building air microplastics on human living environment health: A biomechanical perspective

This review examines how indoor microplastics—shed from textiles, coatings, and plastic products—enter the body through inhalation, skin contact, and ingestion, and what health risks they pose from a biomechanical perspective. Evidence suggests that inhaled particles accumulate in the lungs and may trigger respiratory inflammation, allergic reactions, and chronic disease, with potential systemic effects via the bloodstream.

2025 Molecular & cellular biomechanics
Article Tier 2

Simulating human exposure to indoor airborne microplastics using a Breathing Thermal Manikin

Researchers used a breathing thermal manikin to simulate human exposure to airborne microplastics inside three apartments and found that every sample contained microplastic particles. Polyester and polyamide fibers from textiles were the most common types detected. The study estimates that people inhale meaningful quantities of microplastics indoors, identifying a significant but understudied route of human exposure.

2019 Scientific Reports 729 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, human exposure, and risk of microplastics in the indoor environment

This review examines the often-overlooked issue of microplastic contamination in indoor environments, where people spend up to 90 percent of their time. Researchers found that indoor microplastic concentrations can be substantial, originating from synthetic textiles, furniture, and building materials. The study highlights a significant gap in understanding human microplastic exposure and calls for more research on the health risks of breathing in and ingesting these particles at home and work.

2021 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 212 citations
Article Tier 2

Indoor Microplastics and Microfibers

This review examines microplastic and microfiber contamination in indoor environments like homes, schools, and workplaces, finding that indoor air and dust often contain more microplastics than outdoor air. Indoor sources like furniture, textiles, and synthetic materials constantly shed tiny plastic fibers that people inhale, ingest, and absorb through skin contact. The review highlights that indoor microplastic exposure, especially through breathing, may be a more significant route of human exposure than previously thought.

2024 19 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Systematic Review on Indoor Microplastics: Unveiling Sources, Exposure Pathways, and Human Health Implications

This systematic review reveals that indoor environments are a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure. People spend most of their time indoors, where microplastics shed from textiles, furniture, and packaging accumulate in dust and air, meaning your home and office may be major contributors to the microplastics you breathe and ingest daily.

2024 Journal of Advanced Research in Micro and Nano Engieering 10 citations
Review Tier 2

Emerging environmental challenge: a critical review of airborne microplastics

This review provides a comprehensive assessment of airborne microplastic pollution, covering their sources, distribution in indoor and outdoor environments, and potential health effects. Researchers found that airborne microplastics are present in diverse settings from homes to remote mountain regions, with textile fibers being the most common type. The study highlights that understanding the health risks of inhaling these particles remains an urgent research priority.

2024 Environmental Research Communications 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the urban atmosphere: Sources, occurrences, distribution, and potential health implications

This review summarizes research on airborne microplastics in cities, finding that indoor sources like textiles and outdoor sources like traffic-related plastic particles are major contributors. Microplastic concentrations in urban air can be significant, especially in densely populated areas, and people can inhale these particles daily. The health implications of breathing in microplastics are still being studied, but early evidence suggests they may cause lung inflammation and other respiratory problems.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Nano/microplastics in indoor air: A critical review of synthesis routes for toxicity testing and preventative measure strategies

This review highlights that indoor air can contain up to 100 times more pollution than outdoor air, and people may inhale up to 130 tiny plastic particles every day. The authors discuss how airborne micro- and nanoplastics from clothing, carpets, furniture, and other household items can enter the lungs and potentially cause disease. The paper also proposes a new approach using specialized air filters to detect, trap, and absorb nanoplastics from indoor air.

2023 Process Safety and Environmental Protection 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Microplastics: A Review on the Occurrence, Migration and Risks to Humans

This review examines the growing concern of airborne microplastics, which are mostly fiber-shaped particles originating from synthetic textiles. Researchers found that these tiny plastic particles can be inhaled directly by humans and also contribute to microplastic contamination in water and soil environments. The study highlights the need for more research to better understand the health risks posed by breathing in airborne microplastics.

2021 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 137 citations