New insights into the long-term dynamics and deposition-suspension distribution of atmospheric microplastics in an urban area

Wenxin Rao; Yifan Fan; Huiming Li; Xin Qian; Tong Liu

doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132860

New insights into the long-term dynamics and deposition-suspension distribution of atmospheric microplastics in an urban area

J Hazard Mater. 2024 Feb 5:463:132860. doi: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132860. Epub 2023 Oct 26.

Authors

Wenxin Rao¹, Yifan Fan¹, Huiming Li², Xin Qian³, Tong Liu⁴

Affiliations

¹ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China.
² School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Nanjing 210023, China. Electronic address: valen222@126.com.
³ State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210023, China; Jiangsu Collaborative Innovation Center of Atmospheric Environment and Equipment Technology (CICAEET), Nanjing University of Information Science & Technology, Nanjing 210044, China. Electronic address: xqian@nju.edu.cn.
⁴ Faculty of Environmental Earth Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060-0810, Japan.

PMID: 37918068
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132860

Abstract

Atmospheric microplastics (AMPs) transmitted through the atmosphere are critical to global microplastic pollution. However, little is known about the long-term dynamics and distribution patterns of deposited (DAMPs) and suspended (SAMPs) AMPs. In this study, simultaneous sampling was conducted over one year to examine the deposition-suspension distribution of AMPs. Monthly and seasonal variations in abundance were evident, with an annual average of 302.31 ± 107.40 items/m²/day for DAMPs and 1.31 ± 0.62 items/m³ for SAMPs. The dynamics of DAMP and SAMP abundance demonstrated the dynamic distribution of AMPs between deposition and suspension. Both meteorological factors and particle features were found to influence the AMP distribution, manifesting as morphological differences and abundance variations. AMPs were most likely derived from traffic, industry, construction, and synthetic textiles, with diverse source areas up to 1750 km away. The estimated deposition flux of 7.28 × 10¹⁴ items per year and inhalation exposure of up to 12,777 items per year highlight the potential ecological and health risks of AMPs.

Keywords: Abundance; Atmospheric microplastic; Characteristics; Human exposure; Source and fate.