Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Development and evaluation of an air filtration system combining Electrostatic Precipitators for airborne microplastics

Researchers designed and evaluated an electrostatic precipitator-based air filtration system specifically targeting airborne microplastics. The system demonstrated effective capture of microplastic particles from indoor air, offering a practical engineering solution to reduce human inhalation exposure.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Floating Micro-particle Collection Efficiency According to Gas Flow Conditions in the Channel

This study tested electrostatic precipitators as a method for capturing airborne microplastic particles, achieving up to 94.3% collection efficiency by optimizing electrode spacing and injection pressure. The findings provide baseline engineering data for developing practical air filtration systems to remove microplastics from indoor or workplace air, which is important given growing evidence that humans regularly inhale plastic particles.

2023 Journal of the Korean Institute of Illuminating and Electrical Installation Engineers
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)
Article Tier 2

Indoor Airborne Microplastics: Human Health Importance and Effects of Air Filtration and Turbulence

This review examines airborne microplastics in indoor environments, where people spend most of their time and where microplastic concentrations are higher than outdoors. Most indoor airborne microplastics are textile fibers small enough to be inhaled deep into the lungs, where they can enter the bloodstream and reach other organs. The authors discuss how air filtration and airflow patterns affect indoor microplastic levels, noting that breathing in microplastics may pose greater health risks than consuming them in food and drink.

2024 Microplastics 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of a standardized methodology for the identification and characterization of airborne microplastics in working spaces

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for identifying and characterizing microplastics in both indoor and outdoor atmospheric samples. The protocol addresses the lack of consistent methods for airborne microplastic monitoring, which is important given the high amount of time people spend indoors.

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

Identification and Mitigation of Deposited Indoor Air Microplastics in an Office Environment in Kuala Lumpur

Air purifier units were tested for their effectiveness in reducing microplastic concentrations in office environments at a Malaysian university. The study characterized indoor microplastic contamination sources and demonstrated that air purification can meaningfully reduce settled and airborne microplastic levels in office settings.

2024 E3S Web of Conferences 1 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

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
Review Tier 2

A review of atmospheric microplastics pollution: In-depth sighting of sources, analytical methods, physiognomies, transport and risks

This review provides an in-depth analysis of atmospheric microplastic pollution, examining sources, detection methods, physical characteristics, transport mechanisms, and health risks. Researchers found that indoor environments tend to contain higher concentrations of airborne microplastics than outdoor settings, and that current detection methods are limited in their ability to capture the smallest particles. The study emphasizes the need for standardized sampling procedures and more research into the health effects of inhaling microplastic particles.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 118 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of biomonitoring microplastics in environmental matrices: Emphasis on airborne particles, dry deposits, and comparative analysis with traditional methods

This systematic review examines methods for monitoring microplastics in the air, including airborne particles and deposits. Researchers have found microplastics everywhere from city streets to clouds, underscoring the extent of airborne plastic pollution that people breathe in every day.

2025 Environmental Advances 17 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

Development of a standardized methodology for the identification and characterization of airborne microplastics in working spaces

Researchers developed a standardized methodology for identifying and characterizing microplastics in both outdoor and indoor atmospheric samples, addressing the absence of harmonized protocols that limits comparability across airborne microplastic studies. The standardized approach improved reproducibility and allowed more accurate assessment of human inhalation exposure in different environments.

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

Characterization of microplastics in indoor and ambient air in northern New Jersey

Researchers characterized airborne microplastics in both indoor and outdoor environments across northern New Jersey, finding fibers, films, and fragments of common plastic types in offices, classrooms, hallways, and homes. Indoor microplastic concentrations were generally higher than outdoor levels, with deposition rates varying by location and particle size. The study adds to growing evidence that indoor air is a significant pathway for human microplastic exposure through inhalation.

2021 Environmental Research 206 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in the Air

This review provides a comprehensive overview of methods for collecting, extracting, and identifying airborne microplastics, examining their sources, transport mechanisms, and persistence in urban and atmospheric environments, and establishing a methodological foundation for future research on microplastic air pollution.

2025
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
Article Tier 2

Comparision of air sampling techniques to analyse microplastics during plastic recycling

Researchers compared air sampling methods for measuring microplastics released during plastic recycling operations, evaluating capture efficiency and particle size coverage. The study identified which sampling approaches are most suitable for characterizing worker inhalation exposure in recycling facilities.

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

Exploring microplastics sources in indoor environments, an emerging pollutant

This study explores microplastics as an emerging indoor air and surface pollutant, examining the diverse sources that contribute to microplastic presence within indoor environments and characterizing the pathways by which people may be exposed.

2025 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

Comparision of air sampling techniques to analyse microplastics during plastic recycling

Researchers compared different air sampling techniques for analyzing microplastics during plastic recycling operations, evaluating each method's ability to capture and identify airborne particles. The comparison identified key strengths and limitations of each approach for occupational and environmental air monitoring.

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

Innovative prototype for the mitigation of water pollution from microplastics to safeguard the environment and health

Researchers developed an innovative prototype device for removing microplastics from water through a combination of filtration and electrocoagulation, demonstrating high MP removal efficiency from both synthetic and real water samples in controlled trials.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Tracking Microplastics in the Air: Cutting-edge Methods for Indoor and Outdoor Environments

This study developed a rigorous standardized methodology for sampling and characterizing airborne microplastics in both indoor and outdoor environments, using sonication to separate particulate matter fractions from quartz filter paper. The approach improves quantification comparability across studies, addressing a major limitation in the fragmented airborne microplastic literature.

2024 Aerosol and Air Quality Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic breath: Quantification of microplastics and polymer additives in airborne particles

This study quantified microplastics and plastic polymer additives in airborne particulate matter collected from indoor and outdoor environments, characterizing the contribution of plastic particles to inhalation exposure. Microplastics and associated additives were detected in breathable air, supporting inhalation as a significant route of human plastic exposure.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

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