Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

A novel online method for the detection, analysis, and classification of airborne microplastics

Researchers developed an online method for real-time detection, analysis, and automated classification of airborne microplastics, enabling continuous monitoring of plastic particle concentrations and polymer types in ambient air without the time-consuming sample preparation required by conventional methods.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Size-Resolved Identification and Quantification of Micro/Nanoplastics in Indoor Air Using Pyrolysis Gas Chromatography–Ion Mobility Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed a new method to measure micro and nanoplastics in indoor air down to 56 nanometers in size, using advanced mass spectrometry techniques. They found significant concentrations of plastic particles in both a laboratory and a private home, with polystyrene being the most common type, and also detected flame retardant chemicals associated with plastic furniture foam. This study provides some of the first evidence that people are breathing in substantial amounts of nanoscale plastic particles indoors, where most people spend the majority of their time.

2024 Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry 13 citations
Article Tier 2

In situ chemical characterization of airborne nanoplastic particles by aerosol mass spectrometry

Researchers used aerosol mass spectrometry to chemically characterize airborne nanoplastic particles in real time in urban air. They detected multiple polymer types including polyethylene and polystyrene at concentrations that varied with location and weather conditions. This approach enables in situ monitoring of atmospheric nanoplastics without sample collection, advancing understanding of human inhalation exposure.

2023
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

Quantitation of Atmospheric Suspended Polystyrene Nanoplastics by Active Sampling Prior to Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed a method to measure polystyrene nanoplastics suspended in outdoor air using active air sampling and a specialized chemical analysis technique. They detected nanoplastics at multiple locations, confirming that these ultra-small plastic particles are present in the air we breathe. Since nanoplastics are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream, reliable measurement methods like this are critical for understanding airborne exposure risks.

2023 Environmental Science & Technology 42 citations
Article Tier 2

A fluorescence approach for an online measurement technique of atmospheric microplastics

Scientists developed a fluorescence-based instrument that can detect airborne microplastic particles in real time, rather than requiring slow laboratory analysis. The tool successfully identified common plastic types like PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene as individual particles in the air. This technology could help researchers better understand how much microplastic people are actually breathing in, which is important for assessing respiratory health risks from airborne plastic pollution.

2024 Environmental Science Atmospheres 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying the Chemical Composition and Real-Time Mass Loading of Nanoplastic Particles in the Atmosphere Using Aerosol Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed the first real-time method to measure nanoplastic particles in the air using a specialized instrument called an aerosol mass spectrometer. They detected polystyrene nanoplastics at an urban site in China at concentrations of around 47 nanograms per cubic meter, confirming that we are breathing in tiny plastic particles. This tool could help researchers better understand how much airborne nanoplastic pollution people are actually exposed to.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Laboratory Investigation of Nanoplastic Mixing States with Water-Soluble Coatings using Single-Particle Mass Spectrometry

Scientists developed a new method to detect tiny plastic particles in the air and see what other chemicals stick to them, like salts and acids. They found that these nanoplastics can pick up different coatings as they float through the atmosphere, which changes how they move and where they end up. This matters for human health because understanding how these plastic particles travel and what they carry with them helps us predict where they might be breathed in by people.

2026
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

Size-resolved identification and quantification of micro/nano-plastics in indoor air using pyrolysis gas chromatography-ion mobility mass spectrometry

A novel pyrolysis gas chromatographic cyclic ion mobility mass spectrometer method was developed to identify and quantify micro- and nanoplastics smaller than 1 micrometer in indoor air, finding four common plastic types in tested samples.

2023 3 citations
Article Tier 2

AFM-IR as a tool to detect nanoplastic particles in aerosols

Scientists have developed a new method to detect extremely tiny plastic particles (called nanoplastics) floating in the air we breathe. These particles are much smaller than a human hair and harder to find than larger plastic pieces, but they may be more dangerous because they can get deeper into our lungs and bodies. This detection tool will help researchers better understand how much of these invisible plastics we're actually breathing in every day.

2026
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

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

High debit sampling of airborne micro and nanoplastics in remote sea

Researchers developed a high-volume air sampler to detect micro- and nanoplastics in remote marine environments far from populated coastlines. The study confirms that plastic particles are transported through the atmosphere to even isolated ocean regions, demonstrating that no environment is free from airborne plastic pollution.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

A HoLDI mass spectrometry platform for airborne nanoplastic detection

Researchers developed a 3D-printed hollow laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry platform for detecting airborne nanoplastics collected on simple substrates. The HoLDI system enabled high-throughput analysis of environmental aerosol samples without complex sample preparation, achieving sensitive detection of polystyrene and other polymer nanoplastics in ambient air.

2025 Communications Chemistry 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Thermal desorption and analysis of atmospheric nanoplastics via PTR-MS

Scientists developed a new method to detect tiny plastic particles called nanoplastics in air and water by heating them up and analyzing the gases they release. This is important because nanoplastics are so small they can get into our bodies through the air we breathe and food we eat, but until now they've been very hard to measure. The new technique could help researchers better understand how much plastic pollution we're actually exposed to and its potential health effects.

2026
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 global atmospheric microplastics dataset and model-assisted insights into their atmospheric emissions

Scientists created the first global map of tiny plastic particles floating in our air and found they're everywhere—even in remote areas far from cities. These microscopic plastic bits can travel huge distances through the atmosphere and may pose health risks because they can carry harmful chemicals into our lungs when we breathe. The research shows that most airborne microplastics come from land-based sources rather than the ocean, helping us better understand how plastic pollution spreads around the planet.

2026
Article Tier 2

A comprehensive review of micro- and nano-plastics in the atmosphere: Occurrence, fate, toxicity, and strategies for risk reduction.

This review examines a decade of research on micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs) in the atmosphere, covering their occurrence in outdoor and indoor air, toxicological effects on human health, and strategies to reduce exposure risk from inhalation of airborne plastic particles.

2023 The Science of the total environment
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

Unveiling the invisible: first discovery of micro- and nanoplastic size segregation in indoor commercial markets using a cascade impactor

Scientists used a specialized air sampling device in indoor commercial markets to measure airborne micro and nanoplastics sorted by size, the first study of its kind. They found plastic particles of all sizes floating in the air, including nanoplastics smaller than 0.25 micrometers that can penetrate deep into the lungs. This study is significant because it reveals that people shopping in indoor markets are breathing in tiny plastic particles that could affect respiratory and overall health.

2024 Air Quality Atmosphere & Health 15 citations
Article Tier 2

New signature method for identifying organic material in atmosphere and water samples

Researchers developed a new optical signature method to rapidly detect and identify plastic contamination in both air and water samples. The technique is faster than existing methods and works with compact equipment, making it suitable for field use. Portable and rapid plastic detection tools are important for monitoring microplastic pollution in diverse environments.

2023
Article Tier 2

Online in situ detection of atmospheric microplastics based on laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy

Researchers developed a laser-based detection system combined with machine learning that can identify and classify different types of microplastics in the air in real time. The system achieved high accuracy in distinguishing between common plastic types like polyethylene, polystyrene, and PVC. Better tools for monitoring airborne microplastics are important because people inhale these particles daily, and understanding what types are present in the air is the first step toward assessing respiratory health risks.

2025 Journal of Laser Applications 5 citations
Article Tier 2

A Novel Strategy to Directly Quantify Polyethylene Microplastics in PM2.5 Based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Researchers developed a new method using pyrolysis gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry to directly measure polyethylene microplastics in fine airborne particulate matter (PM2.5). This technique overcomes limitations of visual and spectroscopic methods that struggle to detect very small plastic particles in air samples. The study provides one of the first tools for accurately quantifying microplastics in PM2.5, helping researchers better understand the extent of airborne plastic pollution.

2023 Analytical Chemistry 42 citations