Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

An Occupant-Based Overview of Microplastics in Indoor Environments in the City of Surabaya, Indonesia

Airborne microplastic deposition in settled indoor dust was measured in residential and commercial buildings in a city environment, providing an occupant-based assessment of indoor microplastic exposure. Microplastics smaller than 5 mm were deposited at measurable rates in all sampled indoor settings, with fiber shapes dominating the settled dust contamination.

2020 Journal of Ecological Engineering 52 citations
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

Assessing the concentration, distribution and characteristics of suspended microplastics in the Malaysian indoor environment

Researchers measured airborne microplastic levels inside offices, classrooms, apartments, and homes across Malaysia over six weeks. Microplastics were found in every indoor environment tested, with fibers being the most common type, and people in homes were estimated to inhale more microplastics daily than those in offices or classrooms. The findings highlight that indoor air is a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure for people.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic characterization based on the number of occupants

Microplastics were found in indoor dust from an apartment, office, and school in Surabaya, Indonesia, with school environments having the highest concentrations. The findings confirm that people — especially children — are continuously exposed to microplastics through the air they breathe indoors.

2020 AIP conference proceedings 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics exposure levels based on building composition and usage in built environmnet

This study assessed indoor microplastic exposure levels across different building types and usage patterns, finding that building composition materials and occupancy behavior significantly affect airborne MP concentrations and thus human inhalation exposure in built environments.

2025 Building Simulation Conference proceedings
Article Tier 2

Assessing Microplastic Distribution in Indoor Environments: A Case Study of a University Facility in Kuala Lumpur

Microplastics were detected in the indoor air and settled dust of a Malaysian university building at concentrations averaging 156 particles per cubic metre in offices and 104 in classrooms, with estimated daily adult intakes of over 150 microplastic particles per kilogram of body weight per day. These findings confirm that indoor environments — where people spend the majority of their time — are a significant and often overlooked route of human microplastic inhalation and ingestion.

2023 Research Square (Research Square)
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)
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastic contamination across diverse university indoor environments: A comprehensive ambient analysis

Researchers measured airborne microplastics across different indoor spaces at a university and found that people in those buildings inhale an estimated 180 to 240 microplastic particles daily. The most common types found were nylon, PTFE, polypropylene, and polyethylene, with fragments showing rough edges from wear and tear. This study highlights that indoor air is a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure for people who spend most of their time indoors.

2024 Air Quality Atmosphere & Health 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Human inhalation exposure assessment of the airborne microplastics from indoor deposited dusts during winter in Dhaka, Bangladesh

Researchers analyzed indoor dust from 15 homes in Dhaka, Bangladesh and found microplastics in every sample, with concentrations suggesting that people inhale thousands of microplastic particles daily during winter when ventilation is reduced. The most common types were polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyester from household items, and estimated daily inhalation exposure was highest for children relative to their body weight.

2024 Heliyon 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Temporal Variations and Characteristics of Microplastics in Indoor and Outdoor Air

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in indoor and outdoor air across different seasons and found levels were similar in both environments, averaging about 1.8–2.7 particles per cubic meter. The dominant plastic type was PET, and turbulent airflow and human activity — not season or day of week — were the main drivers of indoor microplastic levels.

2025 Aerosol and Air Quality Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Microplastics in Indoor and Outdoor Environments at Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur Campus

Researchers collected airborne microplastic samples from indoor and outdoor environments at a Malaysian university campus, finding microplastics present in all locations with higher concentrations indoors and fiber morphologies predominating, suggesting occupants are continually exposed via inhalation.

2025 Journal of Advanced Research in Micro and Nano Engieering
Article Tier 2

Microplastics comparison of indoor and outdoor air and ventilation rate effect in outskirts of the Seoul metropolitan city

Researchers measured airborne microplastics both indoors and outdoors in buildings near Seoul, finding that indoor concentrations were 1.8 times higher than outdoor levels. Polyester fibers from clothing and furnishings were the most common type, and lower ventilation rates led to higher indoor microplastic levels, meaning the air people breathe at home and work may be a significant source of microplastic exposure.

2024 Emerging contaminants 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Fallout in Different Indoor Environments

Researchers tracked microplastic fallout in indoor environments (dormitory, office, corridor) over three months and found that higher human activity on workdays and airflow from air conditioning increased microplastic deposition rates, identifying indoor air as a significant exposure route.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 404 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of microplastics in university interior environments

This study measured airborne microplastic concentrations in indoor environments at a university, finding particles in air samples from multiple indoor settings. Results contribute to evidence that indoor air represents a significant daily source of microplastic inhalation exposure, particularly given the time people spend in closed indoor environments.

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

Quantification, characteristics, and distribution of microplastics released from waste burning furnaces and their associated health impacts

Researchers quantified microplastics released from waste burning furnaces in Indonesia, finding 41-77 fiber-type particles at sampling sites near each furnace, with an estimated 1.9-2.3 microplastics entering the human body via inhalation, highlighting an overlooked airborne exposure pathway.

2023 Environmental Quality Management 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Morphological and Chemical Analysis of Indoor Airborne Microplastics: Implications for Human Health in Ahvaz, Iran

Researchers collected indoor airborne microplastics and performed detailed morphological and chemical characterization, assessing the particle types, polymer identities, and surface properties of what people inhale in enclosed spaces. The study found a diverse mixture of synthetic fiber fragments and plastic particles in indoor air.

2024
Article Tier 2

Morphological and chemical analysis of indoor airborne microplastics: implications for human health in Ahvaz, Iran

Researchers analyzed airborne microplastics inside homes, offices, and commercial buildings in Ahvaz, Iran, finding significant concentrations that vary by building type and season. Using Raman spectroscopy and electron microscopy, they identified various polymer types and estimated annual inhaled doses based on typical occupancy patterns. The study found that people may be inhaling meaningful amounts of microplastics indoors, where they spend most of their time, posing potential respiratory and other health risks.

2025 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Indoor microplastics and bacteria in the atmospheric fallout in urban homes

Researchers measured indoor airborne microplastics and bacteria across different rooms in 20 urban homes. The study identified nearly 24,000 microplastic particles of 21 polymer types and found that microplastic abundance varied by room type and usage patterns, with a significant correlation between microplastic concentrations and bacterial community structure in the home environment.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and quantification of microplastics in indoor environments

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in indoor spaces including offices, labs, dining halls, and dormitories. Dormitories had the highest microplastic levels, with fibers being the most common shape found. The study highlights that people are regularly inhaling microplastics indoors, where they spend the majority of their time.

2023 Heliyon 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Microplastics in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of a Developing Country in South Asia: Abundance, Distribution, Morphology, and Possible Sources

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments across Sri Lanka, one of the first studies of its kind in a lower-middle-income country. They found that indoor microplastic concentrations were significantly higher than outdoor levels, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study estimates that people in these environments inhale thousands of microplastic particles daily, raising concerns about respiratory health impacts.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 107 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploration of microplastic concentration in indoor and outdoor air samples: Morphological, polymeric, and elemental analysis

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments in Islamabad, Pakistan, finding that indoor air contained nearly five times more microplastics than outdoor air. Classrooms had the highest contamination at about 6 particles per cubic meter, with fibers being the most common shape and polyester (PET) the most common plastic type. These findings highlight that people are continuously inhaling microplastics, especially indoors.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 72 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of microplastics in university interior environments

This study measured microplastic concentrations in indoor air at university facilities, building on evidence that indoor environments are significant sites of microplastic exposure through inhalation. Particles were detected in multiple indoor settings, contributing to growing evidence that daily indoor air exposure is a notable route of human microplastic intake.

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

Characterization of microplastics in outdoor and indoor air in Ranchi, Jharkhand, India: First insights from the region

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in both outdoor and indoor air in Ranchi, India, finding plastic particles in all samples with higher concentrations during winter months. Indoor air contained different plastic types than outdoor air, with polyvinyl chloride dominant indoors while polyethylene and polypropylene were more common outside. The study confirms that people are breathing in microplastics throughout the day, whether at home or outside.

2024 Environmental Pollution 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Concentrations of Airborne Microplastics during the Dry Season at Five Locations in Bangkok Metropolitan Region, Thailand

Researchers measured airborne microplastic concentrations across five sites in Bangkok during the dry season, finding an average of 333 particles per cubic meter with the highest concentrations at dumpsite locations, providing the first airborne microplastic data for Thailand.

2022 Atmosphere 37 citations