Papers

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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

Unveiling the seasonal transport and exposure risks of atmospheric microplastics in the southern area of the Yangtze River Delta, China

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in the city of Ningbo, China, finding an average of 0.145 particles per cubic meter of air, with urban areas having about 70% more than surrounding rural regions. Most airborne microplastics were fibers smaller than 1 millimeter, mainly from synthetic textiles and local industry, with levels highest in winter. The study estimated that trillions of microplastic particles are suspended in the air over this single city, highlighting the scale of airborne microplastic exposure for urban populations.

2024 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial and seasonal variations of airborne microplastics in the emerging megacity of Hangzhou, China

Researchers conducted a year-long sampling campaign across four urban zones in Hangzhou, China, to characterize airborne microplastics at human breathing height. The study found an average of 4.43 particles per cubic meter, with about 89% of particles smaller than 100 micrometers, predominantly fragments composed of polyamide and rubber, showing strong seasonal variation with lowest levels in summer.

2026 Environmental Pollution
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastics in rainfalls in the megacity of Hangzhou: Morphology, composition, and deposition flux

Microplastics in rainfall across Hangzhou, China were found in all wet deposition samples, with fibers dominating, and deposition flux correlated with rainfall intensity and industrial activity patterns — highlighting urban wet deposition as a significant microplastic transport pathway.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
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

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

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

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
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

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

Atmospheric deposition is an important pathway for inputting microplastics: Insight into the spatiotemporal distribution and deposition flux in a mega city

Researchers monitored microplastic fallout from the atmosphere in the Chinese megacity of Wuhan over an entire year and found an average of about 83 particles landing per square meter per day. The highest concentrations fell in spring, with city centers receiving more than suburbs, and most particles were tiny fibers from textiles. This study shows that simply breathing outdoor air and living in a city exposes people to a constant rain of microplastic particles.

2023 Environmental Pollution 31 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

Airborne Microplastic Concentrations in Five Megacities of Northern and Southeast China

Researchers used uniform sampling methods to measure airborne microplastic concentrations across five major cities in northern and southeastern China. They found that indoor environments generally had higher microplastic levels than outdoor air, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study provides some of the first directly comparable data on airborne microplastic exposure across multiple cities, suggesting that people in densely populated areas face meaningful inhalation risks.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 170 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in a rural region of North China Plain

Researchers investigated atmospheric microplastic deposition in a rural area of the North China Plain, finding significant quantities of microplastics deposited through both dry and wet pathways, with fibers and polyethylene being the dominant types.

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

Atmospheric microplastics in Handan, China: characteristics, seasonal variations, and human exposure risk

Researchers conducted a year-long monitoring campaign of deposited and suspended atmospheric microplastics in Handan, an industrial city in northern China. They found strong seasonal variations linked to wind patterns and industrial emissions, with human inhalation exposure posing a measurable health risk.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
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

Assessment of suspended atmospheric microplastics in Tianjin Binhai New Area: characterization, human health risks, and correlation with weather conditions and Air Quality Index

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in an urban area of Tianjin, China, and found them in every sample collected during autumn and winter. The particles were mostly fibers, with polyethylene terephthalate and polyethylene among the most common types, and concentrations varied with weather conditions like humidity and barometric pressure. A health risk assessment suggested that residents face measurable exposure to airborne microplastics, raising concerns about long-term inhalation risks.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics, sources and potential ecological risk of atmospheric microplastics in Lhasa city

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics collected at a monitoring site, identifying their sources, size distribution, polymer composition, and potential ecological risks from aerial deposition to terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 7 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

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

Characteristics of microplastics in the atmosphere of Anyang City

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in Anyang City, China, and found that concentrations increased significantly as air quality worsened, reaching an average of 0.42 particles per cubic meter during heavily polluted days. About 80% of the particles were black fiber strips, mainly made of cellophane, PET, and EVA. The study estimates that on high-pollution days, adults breathe in an average of 222 microplastic particles daily, highlighting the respiratory health risk from airborne microplastics in polluted cities.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric microplastic fallout in outdoor and indoor environments in São Paulo megacity

Researchers measured microplastic fallout in both outdoor and indoor environments across the megacity of Sao Paulo, Brazil, and found that indoor environments had significantly higher microplastic deposition rates than outdoor locations. Fibers from synthetic textiles were the most common type of airborne microplastic detected. The study highlights that people living in densely populated cities may face substantial microplastic exposure simply from the air they breathe indoors.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 138 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

Microplastics in the atmospheric of the eastern coast of China: different function areas reflecting various sources and transport

Atmospheric sampling at two sites in a Chinese coastal city found microplastics suspended in the air at both downtown and industrial locations, but with different dominant sources — lifestyle and consumer products in the city center versus industrial activity in the industrial zone. The finding that microplastics are transported through the atmosphere confirms that people in urban areas are inhaling plastic particles regardless of proximity to industrial facilities.

2024 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 2 citations