Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

The temporal evolution of long-range atmospheric microplastic deposition

Researchers analyzed microplastics larger than 2 micrometers in multiple ombrotrophic sphagnum peat archives to reconstruct the temporal evolution of global atmospheric MP deposition from the 1990s to 2020, finding deposition rates increased from hundreds to tens of thousands of MPs/m2/day with polyethylene comprising 93.5% of identified polymers.

2024
Article Tier 2

Temporal Archive of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition Presented in Ombrotrophic Peat

Historical atmospheric microplastic deposition was reconstructed using an ombrotrophic peat archive, demonstrating that this precipitation-fed peat record captures the temporal trend of increasing atmospheric microplastic pollution over recent decades.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology Letters 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of Atmospheric Metals and Nitrogen Deposition in Mosses: Temporal Development between 1990 and 2020, Comparison with Emission Data and Tree Canopy Drip Effects

Researchers analyzed 30 years of European moss monitoring data from 1990 to 2020, tracking temporal trends in atmospheric deposition of metals and nitrogen, with the 2020 campaign also including the first broad-scale measurement of microplastic accumulation in mosses.

2023 Pollutants 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and Persistent organic pollutants in moss samples from Germany

Researchers analyzed moss samples from Germany for both microplastics and persistent organic pollutants to assess atmospheric deposition. Mosses act as passive collectors of airborne contaminants, and the study documents widespread co-exposure to plastic particles and legacy chemicals in terrestrial ecosystems.

2023
Article Tier 2

Determination of atmospherically deposited microplastics in moss samples

Researchers developed and evaluated methods for detecting atmospherically deposited microplastics in moss samples, adapting established moss biomonitoring frameworks used for heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants to enable both particle-based and mass-based microplastic analysis.

2024
Article Tier 2

Monitoring moss reveals widespread deposition of airborne microplastics across the UK – practical lessons and recommendations

Researchers evaluated the use of moss as a biomonitor for atmospheric microplastic deposition across the UK, drawing on established protocols for monitoring metals and nutrients in mosses. The study demonstrated that moss biomonitoring is practical for large-scale spatial surveys and provided recommendations for standardized collection, processing, and quantification methods.

2025
Article Tier 2

Moss as a biomonitor for the atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres

Researchers used moss (Bryophyta) as a passive biomonitor to track atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres, finding that moss samples from various locations accumulated synthetic fibres reflecting local sources of airborne plastic contamination. The study establishes moss monitoring as a practical method for assessing microplastic atmospheric deposition without active collection equipment.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 84 citations
Article Tier 2

Moss Bags as Biomonitors of Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition in Urban Environments

Researchers tested moss bags as a biomonitoring tool for measuring atmospheric microplastic deposition across an urban gradient in southern Ontario, Canada. They found that moss bags effectively captured microplastics, with higher deposition in more urbanized areas. The study demonstrates that moss-based monitoring is a practical, low-cost method for tracking airborne microplastic pollution in cities.

2023 Biology 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of atmospheric microplastics in bulk-deposition of urban and rural environments – A one-year follow-up study in northern Germany

Researchers conducted a year-long study of atmospheric microplastic deposition across urban and rural sites in northern Germany, finding spatial and temporal variation in microplastic fallout patterns that help quantify environmental input rates.

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

Biomonitoring of Airborne Microplastic Deposition in Semi-Natural and Rural Sites Using the Moss Hypnum cupressiforme

Researchers demonstrated that the native moss Hypnum cupressiforme can serve as a biomonitor of atmospheric microplastic deposition, detecting synthetic fibers and fragments at semi-natural and rural sites in southern Italy and revealing that airborne microplastic contamination extends well beyond urban areas.

2023 Plants 36 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

Potential Role of Mosses in Evaluating Airborne Microplastic Deposition in Terrestrial Ecosystems

This review examines the potential of mosses to serve as cost-effective biomonitors for tracking airborne microplastic deposition in terrestrial ecosystems. Preliminary studies indicate that mosses accumulate higher concentrations of microplastics than lichens, likely due to their physical structure. The study outlines steps needed to develop a standardized, reliable methodology for using mosses to monitor airborne microplastic pollution across both inhabited and remote regions.

2026 Journal of Xenobiotics
Article Tier 2

Forest soils accumulate microplastics through atmospheric deposition

Researchers quantified microplastics in forest soil layers and atmospheric throughfall deposition to understand how microplastics accumulate in forest ecosystems. They found that microplastics initially enriched in decomposed litter layers before accumulating in deeper mineral soil through natural litter turnover processes. The study suggests that forests act as good indicators of atmospheric microplastic pollution, with most forest soil microplastics originating from atmospheric deposition rather than other sources.

2025 Communications Earth & Environment 6 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

Atmospheric microplastic deposition in a valley city over a five-year period: sources, ecological risks, spatiotemporal distributions and influencing factors

A five-year (2019–2023) monitoring study in a valley city found rising atmospheric microplastic deposition, with summer peaks over four times higher than winter lows, strongly influenced by precipitation, wind, temperature, and urban activity levels. Long-term data showing increasing airborne microplastic trends have direct implications for inhalation exposure in urban populations.

2026 Environmental Geochemistry and Health
Article Tier 2

The use of bioindicators to assess airborne microplastic deposition in remote peatlands of La Réunion

Using peatland mosses as bioindicators, researchers documented atmospheric microplastic deposition at remote sites on Reunion Island, finding that even isolated tropical peatlands receive measurable airborne microplastic inputs from distant sources.

2024
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics: a sampling and analytical method including the associated measurement uncertainties

Researchers developed a tailored analytical chain for atmospheric microplastic sampling — including collection, processing, and optical microscopy-based analysis — and applied it to quantify atmospheric deposition of microplastics and assess the atmosphere as a vector of global microplastic distribution.

2025
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

Biomonitoring mit Moosen zur Erfassung atmosphärischer Deposition von Metallen, Stickstoff, persistenten organischen Verbindungen und Mikroplastik/Biomonitoring with mosses for the investigation of atmospheric deposition of metals, nitrogen, persistent organic compounds and microplastics

This report summarizes German moss biomonitoring data from 1990 to 2015, showing significant declines in heavy metal deposition but persistently high nitrogen levels, and presents early results from new methods for detecting microplastics in moss samples. Mosses accumulate airborne pollutants and serve as cost-effective tools for tracking atmospheric deposition trends.

2022 Gefahrstoffe Reinhaltung der Luft 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Lichens and Mosses as Biomonitors of Airborne Microplastics

Researchers compared lichens and mosses as biomonitors for airborne microplastics, finding that both organisms effectively capture and accumulate atmospheric microplastic particles, offering a simpler alternative to traditional labor-intensive sampling methods.

2023 Atmosphere 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Lichen Thalli: A Photo or a Movie of Local Atmospheric Deposition?

Microplastics were found in lichen thalli collected from various sites, making lichens useful bioindicators for monitoring local and temporal patterns of atmospheric microplastic deposition. The study shows that lichens passively accumulate airborne plastics and can provide a record of pollution over time.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastic input into wetlands: Spatiotemporal patterns, drivers, and unique ecological impacts

Researchers monitored atmospheric microplastic deposition across 11 cities along China's lower Yangtze River Basin over four seasons. They found an average deposition rate of 512 items per square meter per day, equivalent to an estimated 17.46 metric tons of plastic annually entering the surveyed wetlands. Vehicle density and the textile industry were identified as primary drivers, and experiments showed that deposited microplastics altered moss bacterial communities, suggesting ecological impacts on wetland ecosystems.

2024 Water Research 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Peatlands as geo-archives for atmospheric micro- and nano-plastics: a perspective review

This review explores the potential of peatlands, the most widespread type of wetlands on Earth, to serve as natural archives for tracking historical atmospheric deposition of micro- and nanoplastics. Researchers found that peatlands, already proven repositories for recording other environmental contaminants over time, show promise as reliable geo-archives for plastic pollution dating back to the start of commercial plastic production around 1950. The study evaluates various sampling and analytical methods to guide future research on reconstructing plastic pollution timelines from peatland cores.

2025 Frontiers in Earth Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Outdoor Atmospheric Microplastics within the Humber Region (United Kingdom): Quantification and Chemical Characterisation of Deposited Particles Present

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic deposition at an urban site in the Humber region of the United Kingdom over 13 months. They found a mean deposition rate of approximately 3,055 particles per square meter per day, predominantly polyethylene and nylon film-shaped particles, with no clear relationship between rainfall and deposition levels. The study also characterized microplastics across five urbanized locations, finding petroleum resin particles more prevalent in industrial and roadside zones.

2022 Atmosphere 41 citations