Papers

20 results
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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

Characteristic of microplastics in the atmospheric fallout from Dongguan city, China: preliminary research and first evidence

Researchers characterized microplastics in atmospheric fallout collected in Dongguan City, China, finding that airborne microplastics are deposited daily and that urban areas generate significant atmospheric microplastic emissions.

2017 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 912 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, Respiratory Exposure, and Traceability of Atmospheric Microplastics in Yichang City].

Researchers sampled airborne microplastics at 16 locations across Yichang City, China, and found them in every area, with the highest concentrations settling over urban residential neighborhoods. The particles were mostly polyester fibers and came predominantly from nearby sources rather than long-range transport. Daily inhalation estimates were calculated for both adults and children, highlighting indoor and outdoor respiratory exposure as a meaningful human health concern that warrants tighter monitoring.

2023 PubMed 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative study on physicochemical characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in winter in inland and coastal megacities: A case of Beijing and Shanghai, China

Researchers compared airborne microplastic pollution during winter in Beijing, an inland city, and Shanghai, a coastal city in China. They found notable differences in the shapes, sizes, and polymer types of microplastics between the two cities, reflecting their distinct urban and industrial environments. The study provides evidence that local geography and economic activity significantly influence the characteristics of atmospheric microplastic contamination.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Various forms and deposition fluxes of microplastics identified in the coastal urban atmosphere

Researchers collected precipitation samples in a Chinese coastal city and found microplastics of multiple shapes deposited from the atmosphere, with seasonal variation in deposition rates. This is one of the first studies to document atmospheric microplastic deposition in a coastal urban environment.

2017 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 253 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastic over the South China Sea and East Indian Ocean: abundance, distribution and source

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic abundance across 21 transects from coastal China to the East Indian Ocean and found that concentrations near the Pearl River Estuary were ten times higher than over the open ocean, with backward trajectory modeling suggesting long-range atmospheric transport exceeding 1,000 km but indicating that atmospheric deposition is unlikely to be the primary source of oceanic microplastic contamination.

2019 Journal of Hazardous Materials 318 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

Spatial distribution, source apportionment and potential ecological risk assessment of suspended atmosphere microplastics in different underlying surfaces in Harbin

Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and sources of airborne microplastics suspended in the atmosphere across six different land-use types in Harbin, China. They found microplastics present above all surfaces, with polypropylene, PET, and polyethylene being the most common types. The study used source analysis to trace the contamination to local activities and assessed the potential ecological risk of breathing in these suspended particles.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of atmospheric microplastics: A case study in Shenzhen City, a southern coastal area of China

Researchers characterized airborne microplastics at ten locations across Shenzhen, a major coastal city in southern China. They found an average abundance of 2.22 particles per cubic meter, with higher concentrations in areas of intense human activity and at lower altitudes. The study identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester fibers as the most common types, and found that temperature and humidity influence airborne microplastic levels.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban atmosphere

Scientists measured microplastics and nanoplastics in the air of two major Chinese cities and found concentrations reaching hundreds of thousands of particles per cubic meter. Road dust being kicked up by traffic and rainfall washing particles out of the sky were the two biggest drivers of atmospheric plastic pollution. These findings suggest that city residents are inhaling significant amounts of plastic particles every day, with potential implications for respiratory and overall health.

2026 Science Advances 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Physicochemical characteristics of airborne microplastics of a typical coastal city in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China

Researchers characterized airborne microplastics in a coastal city in China's Yangtze River Delta, comparing daytime and nighttime concentrations and tracing their sources. They found that fibers were the most common shape, with polyester and rayon dominating, and that microplastic levels were higher during the day when human activity was greater. Atmospheric transport from both land and sea contributed to the pollution, highlighting that airborne microplastics are a significant and complex source of human exposure.

2023 Journal of Environmental Sciences 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of fibrous suspended atmospheric microplastics in Bandung Metropolitan Area, Indonesia

Researchers identified fibrous atmospheric microplastics in total suspended particulates across commercial and residential areas of the Bandung Metropolitan Area, Indonesia, finding that urban commercial zones contained higher concentrations of airborne microplastic fibers than suburban residential areas.

2022 Chemosphere 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Diurnal Dynamics of Atmospheric Microplastic Content in the Central Regions of Uzbekistan

Scientists found tiny plastic particles floating in the air in two cities in Uzbekistan, with the highest levels during morning and afternoon hours when people are most active. Both the industrial city and residential city had similar amounts of these microplastics in the air, suggesting that everyday activities in neighborhoods create just as much plastic pollution as factories. This matters because people breathe in these plastic particles daily, but we still don't fully understand the long-term health effects of inhaling microplastics.

2026 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
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

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in the megalopolis (Shanghai) during rainy season: Characteristics, influence factors, and source

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastic deposition in Shanghai during the rainy season, finding that rainfall events significantly increased deposition rates, with fibers dominating and sources linked to both local urban activities and long-range atmospheric transport.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 134 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

Determination of atmospheric microplastic levels in a textile industry intensive region

This study measured atmospheric microplastic levels in a region with intensive textile manufacturing, finding elevated concentrations linked to industrial fiber emissions. The results underscore the textile sector as a significant local source of airborne microplastic pollution.

2024
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric transport and deposition of microplastics in a subtropical urban environment

Researchers measured atmospheric wet and dry deposition of microplastics over one year in Guangzhou, China, a subtropical megacity. They found deposition fluxes ranging from 51 to 178 particles per square meter per day, with fibers, fragments, films, and microbeads all detected, indicating that atmospheric transport is a significant pathway for microplastic distribution in urban environments.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 265 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastics at a southern China metropolis: Occurrence, deposition flux, exposure risk and washout effect of rainfall

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in Guangzhou, a major city in southern China, finding them throughout the year with higher levels during the rainy season. They estimated that adults in the city inhale tens of thousands of microplastic particles annually through normal breathing. Rainfall helped wash microplastics out of the air, but it also deposited them onto surfaces where they can enter water and soil, creating another pathway for human exposure.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 95 citations