Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Insight into the size-resolved markers and eco-health significance of microplastics from typical sources in northwest China

Researchers characterized atmospheric microplastics emitted from five source types — plastic burning, fruit bag burning, road traffic, agricultural film, and livestock breeding — in northwest China's Guanzhong Plain, finding distinct polymer and plasticizer profiles for each source. Plastic burning produced the highest diversity of polymer types, providing source-specific fingerprints useful for pollution management.

2025
Article Tier 2

Reply on RC5

Researchers characterized microplastic source profiles and plasticizer emissions (phthalates, benzothiazoles, bisphenol A) from five pollution sources (plastic burning, traffic, agricultural film, livestock) in PM2.5 and PM10 aerosols across the Guanzhong Plain in northern China, providing source-resolved atmospheric microplastic data.

2025
Article Tier 2

Airborne Micro- and Nanoplastics: Source Implications from Particulate Matter Composition

Researchers simultaneously measured airborne micro- and nanoplastics (AMNPs) and particulate matter (PM) across three sites in Japan in different seasons, identifying shared and distinct sources. AMNPs co-occurred with combustion-related PM components, providing evidence that airborne plastics partly originate from the same sources as fine particulate air pollution.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments of a developing country in South Asia: abundance, distribution, morphology, and possible sources

Researchers quantified airborne microplastic concentrations in indoor and outdoor environments in a South Asian developing country, characterizing particle abundance, size distribution, morphology, and potential sources, finding significant microplastic air pollution in a lower-middle-income country context.

2022 Figshare 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fine micro- and nanoplastics particles (PM2.5) in urban air and their relation to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Researchers measured ultrafine micro- and nanoplastics in urban air at the individual polymer level for the first time, finding correlations between airborne plastic particle concentrations and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, suggesting plastics act as carriers for toxic compounds.

2023 Atmospheric Environment 50 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2023 Molecules 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in urban air: polymer composition, interactions and inhalation risk

Researchers characterized airborne micro- and nanoplastics in urban air using pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry on size-fractionated aerosol samples. The study found total concentrations averaging 0.6 micrograms per cubic meter, with tire wear particles as a dominant source, highlighting an underestimated threat to urban air quality and human respiratory health.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Size Distributionof Micro-/Nanoplastic Particlesand Their Chemical Speciation in the Atmosphere of Shanghai, China

Researchers characterized the size distribution and chemical speciation of micro- and nanoplastic particles collected from environmental samples, finding a continuous size spectrum from microns to nanometers and detecting additive chemicals co-associated with the particles.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Plastic burning: An important global source of atmospheric nanoplastic particles

Researchers conducted smoldering laboratory experiments with PVC, PP, LDPE, PET, and PS plastics and used aerosol mass spectrometry to characterise the physical and chemical properties of nanoplastic particles emitted, finding that plastic burning generates large quantities of nanoplastics and thermo-oxidation products that represent a significant but poorly quantified global source of atmospheric nano-sized plastic particles.

2025
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

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

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
Article Tier 2

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

Researchers quantified microplastics and polymer additives in airborne samples to assess inhalation exposure, finding synthetic particles across multiple size fractions in outdoor air. The study highlights airborne microplastics as a significant and often underestimated route of human plastic exposure.

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

Atmospheric Microplastics Emission Source Potentials and Deposition Patterns in Semi‐Arid Croplands of Northern China

Researchers measured atmospheric microplastic emissions from croplands in semi-arid northern China, where wind erosion events are common. They found that fiber-shaped particles dominated airborne microplastics and that concentrations increased significantly when air masses passed over cropland surfaces. The study reveals that agricultural land in dry regions may be an underrecognized source of airborne microplastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro/nanoplastics in the Shenyang city atmosphere: Distribution and sources

Researchers measured micro- and nanoplastics in airborne particulate matter in Shenyang, China, and found plastic particles in every sample tested, with concentrations averaging 7.62 micrograms per cubic meter and making up about 12% of fine particulate matter. Since these tiny airborne plastics can be inhaled deep into the lungs, they represent a direct route of human exposure that may contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular disease.

2025 Environmental Pollution 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Size Distribution of Micro-/Nanoplastic Particles and Their Chemical Speciation in the Atmosphere of Shanghai, China

Scientists measured airborne micro- and nanoplastics in Shanghai's winter atmosphere and found that nearly 60% of the plastic mass consisted of very fine particles under 3.2 micrometers, small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs. Polyethylene (the most common plastic) made up 40% of airborne plastics, and modeling showed that nanoscale particles accumulate more in the deep lung than in the upper airways, raising concerns about long-term respiratory health effects.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the external atmospheric input of microplastics: Two strategies based on polymer composition and aging characteristics

Researchers compared microplastic pollution in dust from a sparsely populated area on the Mongolian Plateau and a densely populated city, using polymer composition and aging characteristics to distinguish locally generated microplastics from those transported externally via long-distance atmospheric transport.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the environment: prevalence, fate, impacts, and mitigation

Researchers reviewed the global spread of microplastics — particles smaller than 5mm — across oceans, freshwater, soil, air, and human food, summarizing the environmental and health risks they pose and identifying critical gaps in knowledge about airborne microplastic distribution, with a focus on limited data from Pakistan.

2023
Article Tier 2

Sources and distribution of atmospheric microplastics in Northwest China river valleys via land use

This study quantified suspended atmospheric microplastics across eight land use types in Lanzhou, northwest China, finding a mean abundance of 4.5 particles/m³ with peaks in industrial and residential areas. Land use type was the strongest predictor of MP concentration, highlighting urban and agricultural activities as key emission drivers.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials
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

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

Morphological and Chemical Analysis of Indoor Airborne Microplastics: Implications for Human Health in Ahvaz, Iran

Researchers collected indoor airborne microplastics and performed detailed morphological and chemical characterization, assessing the particle types, polymer identities, and surface properties of what people inhale in enclosed spaces. The study found a diverse mixture of synthetic fiber fragments and plastic particles in indoor air.

2024
Article Tier 2

Distribution and potential health impacts of microplastics and microrubbers in air and street dusts from Asaluyeh County, Iran

Researchers collected street dust and air samples from an industrial area in Iran and found significant quantities of microplastics and microrubber particles that could be inhaled or ingested by residents. The particles varied widely in size, color, and polymer type, with concentrations highest near industrial and urban zones. The study provides some of the first evidence that airborne microplastics in terrestrial environments represent a meaningful human exposure pathway.

2018 Environmental Pollution 719 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