We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Physicochemical characteristics of airborne microplastics of a typical coastal city in the Yangtze River Delta Region, China
ClearCharacterization of atmospheric microplastics in Hangzhou, a megacity of the Yangtze river delta, China
Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics in Hangzhou, a major city in China's Yangtze River Delta. They found that airborne microplastics were predominantly fibers, with tire wear particles and polyethylene terephthalate being the most common polymer types. The annual dry deposition of microplastics across the urban area was estimated at nearly 17 tons, highlighting the scale of airborne microplastic pollution in densely populated regions.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
[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.
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.
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.
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.
Characterization of the Morphological and Chemical Profile of Different Families of Microplastics in Samples of Breathable Air
Researchers characterized the morphological and chemical profiles of airborne microplastics collected from breathable air samples, finding diverse polymer types and particle shapes and examining how these particles are transported through the atmosphere to the air people breathe.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments of a coastal city in Eastern China
Researchers measured airborne microplastic levels in both indoor and outdoor environments in a Chinese coastal city and found that indoor air contained about eight times more microplastics than outdoor air. Fragments smaller than 100 micrometers were the most common type, and urban areas had higher levels than rural areas. The study estimates that a person's annual exposure to airborne microplastics could reach over one million particles, with most exposure occurring indoors where people spend the majority of their time.
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.
Insight into the size-resolved markers and eco-health significance of microplastics from typical sources in northwest China
Researchers characterized airborne microplastics and plasticizers emitted from five common sources in northwest China—plastic burning, fruit bag burning, road traffic, agricultural film, and livestock breeding—finding source-specific polymer and chemical profiles in PM2.5 and PM10 fractions.
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.
Microplastics and nanoplastics in the air: a review
This review examines the occurrence, sources, physicochemical characteristics, and sampling and analytical methods for microplastics and nanoplastics in atmospheric air across urban, industrial, coastal, and remote environments. The authors find that fibers and fragments are the dominant atmospheric microplastic forms, that no standardized sampling methods currently exist, and that both passive and active collection approaches are used across the literature with limited comparability.
Characteristics, distribution patterns and sources of atmospheric microplastics in the Bohai and Yellow Seas, China
Researchers investigated the characteristics, distribution patterns, and sources of atmospheric microplastics over the Bohai and Yellow Seas in China during summer and autumn 2022. The study provides new data on airborne microplastic pollution over oceanic regions, an area where information has been limited.
Simultaneous Measurement and Compositional Analysis of Atmospheric Microplastics in Taiwan Utilizing Optical and Chemical Methods
Researchers measured airborne microplastics across three sites in Taiwan — rural, near a waste incinerator, and in a traffic-heavy area — finding the highest concentrations at the traffic site, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant plastic types. Estimated daily human exposure through breathing and accidental ingestion ranged in the tens of particles per kilogram of body weight, underscoring that air is a significant but often overlooked route of microplastic exposure.