This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Open AccessReview
Occurrence of Microplastics in the Atmosphere: An Overview on Sources, Analytical Challenges, and Human Health Effects
by
Fabiana Carriera
Fabiana Carriera 1,
Cristina Di Fiore
Cristina Di Fiore 1 and
Pasquale Avino
Pasquale Avino 1,2,*
1
Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences (DiAAA), University of Molise, Via De Sanctis, 86100 Campobasso, Italy
2
Institute of Atmospheric Pollution Research, Division of Rome, c/o Ministry of Environment and Energy Security, 00147 Rome, Italy
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Atmosphere 2024, 15(7), 863; https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070863 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 25 June 2024
/
Revised: 17 July 2024
/
Accepted: 19 July 2024
/
Published: 21 July 2024
Abstract
The rapid spread and accumulation of microplastics (MPs) in environmental ecosystems result from extensive plastic usage. MPs have been found in both indoor and outdoor air. Outdoor MP levels vary widely across global cities, with reported ranges from 36 to 118 MPs m−2 day−1. However, differing measurement units complicate comparisons. Indoor MPs are particularly concerning due to the significant amount of time people spend indoors. For instance, MP concentrations in workplaces like reception areas and nail salons were found to be 309 ± 214 and 46 ± 55 MPs m−3, respectively. Technological limitations hinder the identification of MPs, with methods like µ-ATR-FTIR, µ-FTIR, and µ-Raman identifying MPs of different sizes. MPs smaller than 0.3 µm pose a health risk as they can be internalized in lung cells, while MPs larger than 10 µm are too large to enter alveolar macrophages. This review highlights the current understanding of airborne MPs, focusing on their sources, transport, and deposition mechanisms. It aims to provide a foundation for further studies to deeply assess the presence, abundance, and occurrence of MPs in aerosols, a subject that remains underexplored.
Share and Cite
MDPI and ACS Style
Carriera, F.; Di Fiore, C.; Avino, P.
Occurrence of Microplastics in the Atmosphere: An Overview on Sources, Analytical Challenges, and Human Health Effects. Atmosphere 2024, 15, 863.
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070863
AMA Style
Carriera F, Di Fiore C, Avino P.
Occurrence of Microplastics in the Atmosphere: An Overview on Sources, Analytical Challenges, and Human Health Effects. Atmosphere. 2024; 15(7):863.
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070863
Chicago/Turabian Style
Carriera, Fabiana, Cristina Di Fiore, and Pasquale Avino.
2024. "Occurrence of Microplastics in the Atmosphere: An Overview on Sources, Analytical Challenges, and Human Health Effects" Atmosphere 15, no. 7: 863.
https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos15070863
Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details
here.
Article Metrics
Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.