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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Applying plant fibers in flooring paint: Strategy to reduce indoor microplastics generations and potential health risks
ClearDegradation of floor finishing materials owing to continuous gait: A comprehensive study on the generation and impact of microplastics
Researchers found that everyday walking on floor finishing materials generates microplastics through surface degradation, with carpet tiles producing the highest levels and marmoleum flooring the lowest. They identified the specific mechanisms by which foot traffic breaks down floor surfaces into microplastic particles and conducted a health risk assessment of the resulting exposure. The study suggests that choosing flooring materials like marmoleum over carpet tiles could meaningfully reduce indoor microplastic exposure.
Quantification and exposure assessment of microplastics in Australian indoor house dust
Researchers collected dust samples from 32 Australian homes and found microplastic fibers in every one, with deposition rates varying widely between households. Homes with carpet had significantly higher levels of plastic fibers like polyethylene and polyester, while homes without carpet had more polyvinyl fibers from floor coatings. Since people spend about 90% of their time indoors, this household dust represents a major and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure through both inhalation and ingestion.
Exploring microplastics sources in indoor environments, an emerging pollutant
This study explores microplastics as an emerging indoor air and surface pollutant, examining the diverse sources that contribute to microplastic presence within indoor environments and characterizing the pathways by which people may be exposed.
Indoor microplastics: a comprehensive review and bibliometric analysis
This review summarizes research on microplastic pollution inside buildings, where people spend most of their time. Indoor environments generally have higher microplastic concentrations than outdoors, with fiber-shaped particles from synthetic textiles being the most common type. Since people inhale and ingest these particles daily, indoor microplastic exposure may be a significant and underappreciated route of human health risk.
Microplastics generation from flooring materials under UV exposure: A comprehensive analysis of microplastics emission and chemical deformation
Researchers tested how common indoor flooring materials, including carpet tiles, laminate, and PVC flooring, release microplastics when exposed to UV light from sunlight and foot traffic. All three materials generated microplastic particles, with UV exposure accelerating the release and changing the chemical structure of the plastic surfaces. This study shows that indoor environments are a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic exposure through the air people breathe at home and work.
Microplastics exposure levels based on building composition and usage in built environmnet
This study assessed indoor microplastic exposure levels across different building types and usage patterns, finding that building composition materials and occupancy behavior significantly affect airborne MP concentrations and thus human inhalation exposure in built environments.
Communicating Threats and Potential Opportunities to Reduce Microplastic Pollution with Key Stakeholders
This review examines the occurrence of microplastics in indoor environments, covering dust, air, and household items as sources of human exposure. Synthetic textiles are identified as the dominant indoor source, with estimated daily inhalation exposure exceeding dietary ingestion for many people.
Evaluation of particle generation due to deterioration of flooring in schools.
A simulated school-day experiment tested particle release from different flooring materials under repeated foot traffic, finding that some floor types generate substantial quantities of fine particulate matter, including plastic-containing particles, that may affect indoor air quality for children.
Microplastic: A particulate matter(PM) generated by deterioration of building materials
Researchers identified that deteriorating building materials — including paints, sealants, and coatings — generate microplastic particulate matter as fine indoor dust, with particle concentration and polymer composition varying by material type and degree of degradation.
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.
Microplastics in the indoor environment
This review examines microplastic contamination in indoor environments, noting that people are continuously exposed to microplastics in household dust, air, and from flooring, furniture, and textiles. Indoor microplastic exposure is a key route of human inhalation and ingestion that has received less attention than environmental contamination.
Unravelling the microplastic contamination: A comprehensive analysis of microplastics in indoor house dust
This study provides a detailed analysis of microplastics found in indoor house dust, where people spend most of their time. Fibers were the most common type found, originating from textiles, carpets, and clothing, with plastic sizes and types varying across different household areas. The findings highlight that everyday indoor environments are a significant source of microplastic exposure through inhalation and ingestion of dust.
An Occupant-Based Overview of Microplastics in Indoor Environments in the City of Surabaya, Indonesia
Airborne microplastic deposition in settled indoor dust was measured in residential and commercial buildings in a city environment, providing an occupant-based assessment of indoor microplastic exposure. Microplastics smaller than 5 mm were deposited at measurable rates in all sampled indoor settings, with fiber shapes dominating the settled dust contamination.
Assessing the concentration, distribution and characteristics of suspended microplastics in the Malaysian indoor environment
Researchers measured airborne microplastic levels inside offices, classrooms, apartments, and homes across Malaysia over six weeks. Microplastics were found in every indoor environment tested, with fibers being the most common type, and people in homes were estimated to inhale more microplastics daily than those in offices or classrooms. The findings highlight that indoor air is a significant and often overlooked source of microplastic exposure for people.
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.
Occurrence, human exposure, and risk of microplastics in the indoor environment
This review examines the often-overlooked issue of microplastic contamination in indoor environments, where people spend up to 90 percent of their time. Researchers found that indoor microplastic concentrations can be substantial, originating from synthetic textiles, furniture, and building materials. The study highlights a significant gap in understanding human microplastic exposure and calls for more research on the health risks of breathing in and ingesting these particles at home and work.
A comprehensive characterization of indoor ambient microplastics in households during the COVID-19 pandemic
Researchers used active air sampling to measure airborne microplastics inside seven homes in Turkey during the COVID-19 pandemic, when people spent significantly more time indoors. They found microplastics in all homes, primarily fibers from textiles, with concentrations varying by room and household activities. Since people spend over 80% of their time indoors, the study highlights that household air is a major and underappreciated route of microplastic inhalation exposure.
Microplastics in settled indoor dust: Implications for human exposure
Researchers measured microplastics in household and workplace dust in Birmingham, UK, finding that homes — especially carpeted ones — had higher concentrations than offices, and that toddlers may ingest roughly twice as many microplastic particles per day as adults due to their smaller body size and floor-level activities.
Microplastic levels in the indoor air of buildings based on plastic waste recycling in Indonesia
Researchers measured airborne microplastic concentrations inside a miniature building constructed from recycled plastic waste in Indonesia over 30 days, finding an average deposition rate of 30.8 particles/m2/day during the dry season with passive air sampling and microscopic analysis.
International quantification of microplastics in indoor dust: prevalence, exposure and risk assessment
In the largest international study of its kind, researchers measured microplastic contamination in indoor dust from 108 homes across 29 countries. The study found that synthetic polymer fibers were present in all sampled homes, with higher concentrations linked to certain household factors, and estimated potential human exposure levels.
Influence of the geographic location and house characteristics on the concentration of microplastics in indoor dust
Scientists measured microplastics in household dust from 60 homes across Lima, Peru, and found them in every single home, with fibers being the most common type at 98%. Homes on higher floors, in certain city districts, and with more synthetic textiles had higher concentrations of microplastics in their dust. Since people spend most of their time indoors, this study highlights that household dust is a significant and often overlooked source of daily microplastic exposure.
Study of suspended microplastics in indoor air to assess human exposure through inhalation
Researchers studied suspended microplastics in indoor air to evaluate human exposure through inhalation. The study measured airborne microplastic concentrations in indoor environments, contributing to the growing body of evidence that inhalation represents a significant and underappreciated route of human microplastic exposure.
Microplastics in indoor deposition samples in university classrooms
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in dust collected from university classrooms and found particles from clothing fibers, shoes, and school supplies. Most particles were polyamide and polypropylene fibers ranging from 120 to over 2,000 micrometers in size, and surface damage on the particles suggests they may be breaking down into even smaller nanoplastics over time. Since people spend most of their time indoors, this indoor microplastic exposure is an important and underappreciated route of human contact with these particles.
Household Microplastic Pollutants
This chapter reviews household microplastic pollution as a significant component of indoor environmental contamination, relevant because humans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, including 60% at home. The authors identify major household microplastic sources including synthetic textiles, cleaning products, and food packaging, and assess exposure pathways and health implications for occupants.