Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Abundances, Characteristics, and Health Risk Assessment of Airborne Microplastics in the Urban Area: A Case Study of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Scientists found tiny plastic particles floating in the air of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, with higher amounts during certain weather seasons. These microplastics are small enough to get deep into our lungs when we breathe, and adults face higher health risks than children because they breathe in more air. This research shows that people living in busy cities may be regularly breathing in plastic pollution, but more studies are needed to understand the long-term health effects.

2026
Article Tier 2

The four Seasons of Micro- and Nanoplastic in the Air

Scientists monitored tiny plastic particles in the air for a full year in the Austrian Alps and found six common types of plastics floating in the atmosphere year-round. These microscopic plastic pieces can travel long distances through the air and reach even remote mountain areas, meaning people everywhere are likely breathing them in. This research helps us understand how much plastic pollution exists in our air, which is important since inhaling these particles could affect human health.

2026
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

Observations of Size-Segregated Airborne Microplastics in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Scientists measured tiny plastic particles floating in the air in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, finding microplastics in different sizes of air pollution particles that people breathe in daily. This matters because when we inhale these microscopic plastic pieces, they could potentially harm our health, though more research is needed to understand the exact risks. The study helps us better understand how much plastic pollution is actually in the air we breathe in major cities.

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

Understanding the sources of atmospheric microplastics

Scientists studied where tiny plastic particles in the air come from by analyzing data from cities, suburbs, and remote areas around the world. They found that no single source explains all the microplastics we breathe—instead, different locations have different main sources, like ocean spray in some areas and urban pollution in others. This research is important because understanding where airborne microplastics come from will help scientists better predict human exposure and potential health risks from breathing these particles.

2026
Article Tier 2

Reconciling modeled and observed atmospheric microplastics: a physically consistent framework reduces global emission estimates by a factor of 2

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles floating in our air may be much less common than previously thought - their new research suggests global emissions are about half of earlier estimates. This is important because these microscopic plastics can travel through the atmosphere and potentially end up in our lungs when we breathe. The study also found that most airborne microplastics come from land sources rather than the ocean, which could help guide efforts to reduce plastic pollution.

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

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
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
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric micro (nano) plastics: future growing concerns for human health

This review examines the growing concern about nanoplastics in the atmosphere and their potential effects on human health, an area that has received far less attention than microplastics in water or soil. Researchers found that airborne nanoplastics can penetrate deep into the lungs and potentially enter the bloodstream due to their extremely small size. The study identifies critical knowledge gaps and calls for more research on inhalation exposure pathways and long-term health consequences.

2022 Air Quality Atmosphere & Health 135 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Microplastics: Perspectives on Origin, Abundances, Ecological and Health Risks

This review summarizes current knowledge about microplastics in the atmosphere, including their sources, how far they travel, and potential health effects from inhalation. Researchers found that airborne microplastics can carry toxic chemicals deep into the respiratory system and may contribute to respiratory problems and other health concerns. The study emphasizes that atmospheric microplastic pollution remains poorly understood due to a lack of standardized measurement methods.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric deposition studies of microplastics in Central Germany

Researchers monitored microplastic particles falling from the air in Central Germany over eight months and detected plastic in all wet deposition (rain) samples and half of dry deposition samples, with polypropylene being the most common type. A deeper Raman analysis revealed that standard detection methods may underestimate actual microplastic air pollution by at least ten times, highlighting a large blind spot in atmospheric monitoring.

2024 Air Quality Atmosphere & Health 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying Airborne Micro- and Nanoplastics at the Aerosol Observatory of the University of Vienna

Scientists in Vienna are measuring tiny plastic particles in the air we breathe and found several types of plastics, including pieces from car tires, floating in the atmosphere. These microscopic plastics are small enough to get deep into our lungs when we breathe, but researchers don't yet know what health effects this might cause. This study is helping scientists understand how much plastic pollution is actually in the air around us, which is an important first step in figuring out if it's harmful to human health.

2026
Article Tier 2

An emerging class of air pollutants: Potential effects of microplastics to respiratory human health?

This review explores the emerging concern that airborne microplastics can be inhaled by humans, potentially causing adverse effects on the respiratory system. Researchers compiled available data on the concentration, size, shape, and chemical composition of microplastic particles found in urban air. The findings suggest that airborne plastic debris represents a largely understudied class of air pollutant with potential implications for human health.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 406 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

Microplastics in the urban atmosphere: Sources, occurrences, distribution, and potential health implications

This review summarizes research on airborne microplastics in cities, finding that indoor sources like textiles and outdoor sources like traffic-related plastic particles are major contributors. Microplastic concentrations in urban air can be significant, especially in densely populated areas, and people can inhale these particles daily. The health implications of breathing in microplastics are still being studied, but early evidence suggests they may cause lung inflammation and other respiratory problems.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Atmospheric Warming Contributions from Airborne Microplastics and Nanoplastics

Based on the limited title and abstract provided, here's a TLDR summary: Scientists studied how tiny pieces of plastic floating in the air might be contributing to global warming. These microscopic plastic particles, which we can breathe into our lungs, may be trapping heat in the atmosphere just like other greenhouse gases. This research helps us understand both the climate impact of plastic pollution and potentially another source of harmful particles we're exposed to daily.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Characterizing the Atmospheric Concentration, Transformation, and Cloud Condensation Nuclei Activity of Nanoplastic Particles

Scientists found tiny plastic particles floating in the air around Houston, with concentrations varying greatly across different locations. These nanoplastics can change chemically when exposed to sunlight and air pollution, potentially allowing them to travel long distances around the globe through the atmosphere. This matters because we're still learning how breathing in these microscopic plastic particles might affect human health, and this study shows they're more widespread in our air than previously understood.

2026
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of biomonitoring microplastics in environmental matrices: Emphasis on airborne particles, dry deposits, and comparative analysis with traditional methods

This systematic review examines methods for monitoring microplastics in the air, including airborne particles and deposits. Researchers have found microplastics everywhere from city streets to clouds, underscoring the extent of airborne plastic pollution that people breathe in every day.

2025 Environmental Advances 17 citations
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

Plastic rain—Atmospheric microplastics deposition in urban and peri-urban areas of Patna City, Bihar, India: Distribution, characteristics, transport, and source analysis

Researchers measured microplastic particles falling from the sky in Patna, India, finding nearly 2,000 particles per square meter per day in urban areas. The plastic "rain" was mostly tiny fibers and fragments made of common plastics like PET and polypropylene. This study shows that breathing outdoor air is another way people are exposed to microplastics, especially in cities.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 77 citations
Article Tier 2

Diurnal Dynamics of Atmospheric Microplastic Content in the Central Regions of Uzbekistan

Scientists found tiny plastic particles floating in the air in two cities in Uzbekistan, with the highest levels during morning and afternoon hours when people are most active. Both the industrial city and residential city had similar amounts of these microplastics in the air, suggesting that everyday activities in neighborhoods create just as much plastic pollution as factories. This matters because people breathe in these plastic particles daily, but we still don't fully understand the long-term health effects of inhaling microplastics.

2026 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)