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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A green, fast protocol to estimate the accumulation of airborne anthropogenic microfibers in in urban areas: effects of season and rainfall.
ClearComparison of microplastic type, size, and composition in atmospheric and foliage samples in an urban scenario
Researchers compared microplastic contamination in outdoor air deposits and on plant leaf surfaces in an urban area and found that both sampling methods detected similar types and sizes of microplastic particles. Fibers were the most common shape found, and polyester and polyethylene were among the most frequently identified polymers. The study suggests that plant foliage could serve as a practical biomonitor for tracking airborne microplastic pollution in cities.
Sequential extraction of anthropogenic microfibers from the leaves of Pittosporum tobira
A new sequential extraction protocol using tape-tearing, water washing, ethanol, and hydrogen peroxide successfully recovered airborne microfibers trapped on the waxy leaf surfaces of Pittosporum tobira shrubs, with polyester and PET fibers making up most of what was found. The study validates this common ornamental plant as a reliable biomonitor for airborne microfiber pollution in urban environments, opening the door to low-cost, wide-scale atmospheric plastic monitoring using vegetation.
Moss as a biomonitor for the atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres
Researchers used moss (Bryophyta) as a passive biomonitor to track atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibres, finding that moss samples from various locations accumulated synthetic fibres reflecting local sources of airborne plastic contamination. The study establishes moss monitoring as a practical method for assessing microplastic atmospheric deposition without active collection equipment.
Foliar retention of atmospheric microplastics: Influence of leaf surface properties and rainfall intensity
Researchers found that leaf surface properties and rainfall intensity significantly influence how much atmospheric microplastics are retained on plant foliage, with leaves near a landfill retaining up to 0.80 items/cm2 and autumn showing the highest seasonal accumulation across five common urban tree species.
Comparison of Lichen and Moss Transplants for Monitoring the Deposition of Airborne Microfibers
Researchers compared lichen and moss transplants as tools for monitoring airborne microfiber pollution across urban sites in Italy. They found that lichens accumulated significantly more microfibers than mosses and were better at detecting differences between locations. The study suggests that lichen transplants offer a more effective and accessible biomonitoring approach for tracking airborne microplastic contamination in cities.
Passive biomonitoring of airborne microplastics using lichens: A comparison between urban, natural and protected environments
Researchers used lichens as natural air pollution monitors and found that microplastics accumulate in lichen tissue along a gradient from natural areas to city centers, with urban sites in Rome showing twice the contamination of natural sites. Over 97% of the trapped particles were fibers, and the study also documented the first evidence of larger mesoplastic pieces caught by lichens -- confirming that airborne plastic pollution increases with human activity.
Accumulation of airborne microplastics on leaves of different tree species in the urban environment
Researchers measured airborne microplastics collected on tree leaves in urban areas of the Netherlands and Portugal, finding that needle-shaped leaves from pine and fir trees captured the most particles per surface area. Trees appear to act as natural filters for airborne microplastics, especially the smallest particles, and more plastic accumulated on leaves during dry periods. This matters for human health because airborne microplastics are a growing source of exposure through breathing.
Mitigating airborne microplastics pollution from perspectives of precipitation and underlying surface types
Researchers collected airborne microplastics under and away from a Ficus tree in Chengdu, China, finding that tree canopy cover and meteorological conditions such as precipitation significantly reduce airborne microplastic concentrations, suggesting vegetation as a natural mitigation measure.
Atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibers in different indoor environments of Chennai, India
Researchers measured atmospheric deposition of anthropogenic microfibers—including both synthetic and natural fiber types—in indoor residential and institutional environments in Chennai, India. Indoor deposition rates were high and dominated by cotton and synthetic fiber types, with occupant behavior and air circulation patterns driving variability, indicating that indoor air is a significant but underestimated exposure route.
Microplastic pollution on historic facades: Hidden ‘sink' or urban threat?
Researchers conducted the first study quantifying microplastic contamination on historic building facades in a UK urban area, finding an estimated mean density of 975,000 fibers per square meter. They identified three distinct patterns of fiber distribution based on building height and exposure to weather, with sheltered areas accumulating more short fibers. The findings raise the question of whether urban facades act as a significant environmental sink for airborne microplastics.
Accumulation of Airborne Microplastics on Forest Canopy Leaves: Insights from Trichomes and Epicuticular Waxes
This study collected airborne microplastics from forest canopy leaves (konara oak) near Tokyo, using a three-step washing and extraction protocol to recover particles from leaf surfaces. The results confirm that even forest vegetation in semi-urban areas accumulates airborne microplastics, indicating widespread atmospheric deposition of plastic particles.
Atmospheric microplastics deposition in a central Indian city: Distribution, characteristics and seasonal variations
Researchers measured airborne microplastic fallout in the Indian city of Nagpur and found 213 to 543 particles per square meter per day raining down from the sky, mostly tiny fibers from textiles. Children's estimated inhalation exposure was nearly double that of adults relative to body weight, raising particular health concerns about microplastic exposure through the air we breathe.
Biomonitoring of airborne microplastics and microrubbers in Shiraz, Iran, using lichens and moss
Researchers conducted biomonitoring of airborne microplastics and microrubbers in an indoor environment, characterizing particle types, sizes, and polymer compositions in settled dust and air samples. The findings provide evidence of significant indoor microplastic exposure through inhalation of airborne particles.
Optimizing Moss and Lichen Transplants as Biomonitors of Airborne Anthropogenic Microfibers
Researchers tested moss and lichen transplants as low-cost biomonitors for tracking airborne synthetic microfibers, including microplastics. Over a six-week experiment, both organisms effectively captured microfibers, with moss accumulating slightly more particles overall. The study found that the type of mesh bag used for transplanting affected results, providing practical guidance for standardizing this biomonitoring approach.
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 at multiple sites, assessing contributions to ecosystem contamination. The results showed that atmospheric deposition is a significant pathway for microplastic redistribution, particularly to remote areas.
Lichen Biomonitoring of Airborne Microplastics in Milan (N Italy)
Researchers used lichen transplants across Milan to monitor airborne microplastic deposition, finding that microplastic accumulation varied with land-use zones and traffic density, validating lichens as effective biomonitors for atmospheric plastic pollution.
Biomonitoring of Airborne Microplastic Deposition in Semi-Natural and Rural Sites Using the Moss Hypnum cupressiforme
Researchers demonstrated that the native moss Hypnum cupressiforme can serve as a biomonitor of atmospheric microplastic deposition, detecting synthetic fibers and fragments at semi-natural and rural sites in southern Italy and revealing that airborne microplastic contamination extends well beyond urban areas.
Terrestrial plants as a potential temporary sink of atmospheric microplastics during transport
Plant leaves in two urban regions were found to trap atmospheric microplastics, with plastics making up 28% of the particles adhered to leaf surfaces. Extrapolated globally, leaves in the top 11 greenest countries could hold an estimated 130 billion microplastic pieces, making plants a temporary but significant atmospheric sink for microplastic pollution.
Synthetic fibers in atmospheric fallout: A source of microplastics in the environment?
Researchers found synthetic fibers in atmospheric fallout collected across a study region, demonstrating that airborne transport is a pathway for microplastic fiber deposition even in areas distant from direct plastic sources.
Biomonitoring of Yozgat Çamlık National Park’s (Türkiye) Anthropogenic Microfiber Pollution: A Comprehensive Analysis of Lichen-Supported Air Quality Assessment and Microplastic Composition Insights
Researchers used lichens collected from three zones with varying human activity in Yozgat Çamlık National Park, Turkey, as bioindicators of atmospheric microfiber pollution. Anthropogenic microfibers—predominantly synthetic textiles—were found in all samples, with higher counts in areas closer to roads and human settlements, validating lichen biomonitoring as a tool for airborne microplastic assessment.
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.
Passive biomonitoring of airborne microplastics using lichens: A comparison between urban, natural and protected environments
Scientists used lichens (small plant-like organisms that grow on trees and rocks) to measure tiny plastic particles floating in the air around Rome, Italy. They found that urban areas had twice as many airborne microplastics as natural areas, with the longest plastic fibers found in the city center where people live and work. This matters because these same plastic particles that lichens trap from the air are also being breathed in by humans, potentially affecting our health.
Urban trees as natural interceptors for aerial microplastics: Mechanisms, influencing factors, and selection of tree types for mitigation
This meta-analysis found that urban trees intercept aerial microplastics through surface adhesion and chemical bonding, with fiber-shaped polypropylene particles under 1 mm most commonly captured on leaves. Indigenous evergreen species emerged as the most effective tree type for microplastic mitigation, and rainfall facilitates continuous interception cycles by washing particles from leaf surfaces.
Dynamic fluctuations in plant leaf interception of airborne microplastics
A 7-day field experiment measuring plant leaf interception of airborne microplastics found that leaf MP loads fluctuate dynamically due to deposition and re-suspension processes, challenging the use of static accumulation models for estimating MP interception by vegetation.