There's something in the air: A review of sources, prevalence and behaviour of microplastics in the atmosphere

Stacey O'Brien; Cassandra Rauert; Francisca Ribeiro; Elvis D Okoffo; Stephen D Burrows; Jake W O'Brien; Xianyu Wang; Stephanie L Wright; Kevin V Thomas

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162193

There's something in the air: A review of sources, prevalence and behaviour of microplastics in the atmosphere

Sci Total Environ. 2023 May 20:874:162193. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162193. Epub 2023 Feb 23.

Authors

Stacey O'Brien¹, Cassandra Rauert², Francisca Ribeiro³, Elvis D Okoffo², Stephen D Burrows³, Jake W O'Brien², Xianyu Wang², Stephanie L Wright⁴, Kevin V Thomas²

Affiliations

¹ Queensland Alliance of Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia. Electronic address: stacey.obrien@uq.edu.au.
² Queensland Alliance of Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia.
³ Queensland Alliance of Environmental Health Sciences, The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, Queensland 4102, Australia; College of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Exeter, Geoffrey Pope Building, EX4 4QD, Stocker Road, Exeter, UK.
⁴ MRC Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London SE1 9NH, UK; National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit (NIHR HPRU) in Environmental Exposures and Health, Imperial College London, London SW7 2AZ, UK.

PMID: 36828069
DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162193

Abstract

Literature regarding microplastics in the atmosphere has advanced in recent years. However, studies have been undertaken in isolation with minimal collaboration and exploration of the relationships between air, deposition and dust. This review collates concentrations (particle count and mass-based), shape, size and polymetric characteristics for microplastics in ambient air (m3), deposition (m2/day), dust (microplastics/g) and snow (microplastics/L) from 124 peer-reviewed articles to provide a holistic overview and analysis of our current knowledge. In summary, ambient air featured concentrations between <1 to >1000 microplastics/m³ (outdoor) and <1 microplastic/m³ to 1583 ± 1181 (mean) microplastics/m³ (indoor), consisting of polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene. No difference (p > 0.05) was observed between indoor and outdoor concentrations or the minimum size of microplastics (p > 0.5). Maximum microplastic sizes were larger indoors (p < 0.05). Deposition concentrations ranged between 0.5 and 1357 microplastics/m²/day (outdoor) and 475 to 19,600 microplastics/m²/day (indoor), including polyethylene, polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate. Concentrations varied between indoor and outdoor deposition (p < 0.05), being more abundant indoors, potentially closer to sources/sinks. No difference was observed between the minimum or maximum reported microplastic sizes within indoor and outdoor deposition (p > 0.05). Road dust concentrations varied between 2 ± 2 and 477 microplastics/g (mean), consisting of polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene, polypropylene. Mean outdoor dust concentrations ranged from <1 microplastic/g (remote desert) to between 18 and 225 microplastics/g, comprised of polyethylene terephthalate, polyamide, polypropylene. Snow concentrations varied between 0.1 and 30,000 microplastics/L, containing polyethylene, polyamide, polypropylene. Concentrations within indoor dust varied between 10 and 67,000 microplastics/g, including polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene. No difference was observed between indoor and outdoor concentrations (microplastics/g) or maximum size (p > 0.05). The minimum size of microplastics were smaller within outdoor dust (p > 0.05). Although comparability is hindered by differing sampling methods, analytical techniques, polymers investigated, spectral libraries and inconsistent terminology, this review provides a synopsis of knowledge to date regarding atmospheric microplastics.

Keywords: Air; Atmosphere; Bibliometric; Microplastic; Particulate matter.

Publication types

Review