Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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

A pilot investigation of PM10-bound atmospheric microplastics over a protected mangrove ecosystem: Role of land–sea breeze circulation in marine and terrestrial inputs

A pilot study investigated PM10-bound atmospheric microplastics, measuring particle concentrations and polymer types in outdoor air to assess human inhalation exposure potential. The findings provide early data on the contribution of plastic particles to breathable airborne particulate matter.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification of microplastic present in the atmospheric aerosol of the Port of Veracruz

Researchers identified and characterized microplastics in atmospheric aerosol samples collected at the Port of Veracruz, Mexico, finding diverse polymer types in the air and suggesting that port activities and marine transport contribute to local airborne microplastic pollution.

2024
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Vietnam Journal of Science and Technology/Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Quantification and characterization of atmospheric microplastics in a coastal urban area of the city of Lima, Peru

This study quantified and characterized atmospheric microplastic deposition in a coastal urban area of Lima, Peru, finding that microplastics in the air are an emerging but understudied pollution problem in the region. The research addressed a gap in South American data on airborne microplastic behavior and distribution.

2024
Article Tier 2

Identification and physico-chemical characterization of microplastics in marine aerosols over the northeast Arabian Sea

Researchers collected and analyzed airborne microplastics over the northeast Arabian Sea during two sampling campaigns and found microplastics present in marine aerosols at all locations. Fibers were the most common form, primarily made of polyethylene and polypropylene, likely originating from land-based sources transported by wind. The study provides important baseline data on atmospheric microplastic pollution over open ocean regions that had not been previously measured.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastic particles detected in the remote marine atmosphere

Researchers detected airborne microplastic particles — including polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene — in aerosol samples collected over the remote North Atlantic Ocean far from land. Back trajectory analysis and matching polymer types in both air and seawater suggest the ocean surface itself is a source of airborne microplastics, with true particle counts likely higher than detected since only particles above 5 micrometers were analyzed.

2020 Communications Earth & Environment 271 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne Microplastics in Workplaces: Preliminary Findings from a Multi-site Investigation of Plastic Handling and Processing Facilities

A multi-site investigation of airborne microplastics in plastic handling and processing workplaces found elevated concentrations compared to outdoor air, with particle morphology and polymer types reflecting the specific plastics handled at each facility, identifying occupational inhalation as a significant exposure pathway.

2025 Journal of Biological Research - Bollettino della Società Italiana di Biologia Sperimentale
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics in the Atmosphere

This study measured microplastic concentrations in the atmosphere using active and passive sampling to understand airborne transport pathways. Given that inhaling airborne microplastics is an underappreciated human exposure route, characterizing atmospheric plastic levels and transport is important for estimating total human exposure.

2020 Scholarly Commons (Embry–Riddle Aeronautical University)
Article Tier 2

The Pollution of Atmospheric Microplastics and Their Potential Risks to Humans

This review summarizes what is known about airborne microplastics—tiny plastic particles floating in the air we breathe—including their sources, distribution, and potential health risks. Fibers are the most common form found in air, and inhalation is an important but underestimated route of human microplastic exposure.

2021 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 3 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

A Short Review On Content And Composition Of Airborne Microplastics

This short review synthesizes current knowledge on airborne microplastic concentrations and polymer composition, summarizing monitoring data from indoor and outdoor environments and identifying research gaps in exposure assessment.

2024 1 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

Status and prospects of atmospheric microplastics: A review of methods, occurrence, composition, source and health risks

This review summarized the sampling methods, occurrence, composition, sources, and health risks of atmospheric microplastics. Researchers found that airborne microplastics are detected both indoors and outdoors, with fibers being the most common shape, and that inhalation represents an important but understudied exposure pathway. The study suggests that atmospheric transport plays a significant role in the global distribution of microplastic pollution.

2022 Environmental Pollution 74 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2025 Aerosol and Air Quality Research
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition of microplastics in the coastal zone: Characteristics and relationship with meteorological factors

Microplastics deposited from the atmosphere were sampled and characterized in a coastal zone, with analysis of meteorological factors including air humidity, wind speed, precipitation, and air mass trajectories. The study found measurable atmospheric microplastic deposition in the coastal environment, with weather patterns influencing deposition rates and particle characteristics.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 258 citations
Article Tier 2

The quantification of the airborne plastic particles of 0.43–11 μm: Procedure development and application to atmospheric environment

Researchers developed a new method for measuring airborne plastic particles as small as 0.43 micrometers, a size range rarely studied before. Testing the approach in real atmospheric conditions, they detected multiple types of plastic polymers in the air, including polyethylene, polystyrene, and PET, providing evidence that people are regularly breathing in ultrafine plastic particles.

2024 Chemosphere 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Airborne microplastics in the roadside and residential areas of Southern Thailand

Researchers assessed airborne microplastic contamination in roadside and residential areas across nine districts in southern Thailand. They found microplastic concentrations ranging from 0.09 to 1.54 particles per cubic meter, with particles smaller than 100 micrometers predominating in all samples. The study identified fragments and black-colored particles as the most common types, with polymer analysis revealing a diverse mix of plastic materials in the air.

2024 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 10 citations
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

Occurrence and characteristics of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City

Researchers conducted the first study of atmospheric microplastics in Mexico City, sampling air at seven monitoring stations across urban, residential, and industrial areas during dry and wet seasons. Microplastics were found in every sample, with higher concentrations near industrial and urban centers and during the dry season. The predominant type was blue fibers, and many particles were small enough to be inhaled, raising concerns about airborne microplastic exposure in densely populated cities.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 109 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