Impact of seasonal changes and environmental conditions on suspended and inhalable microplastics in urban air
Journal
Environmental Pollution
Journal Volume
362
Start Page
124994
ISSN
0269-7491
Date Issued
2024-12-01
Author(s)
Yu-Cheng Chen
Chun-Hsuan Wei
Wei-Ting Hsu
Wahyu Diah Proborini
Zhen-Shu Liu
Hsiu-Chuan Chou
Jhy-Charm Soo
Guo-Chung Dong
Jen-Kun Chen
DOI
10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124994
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants extensively detected in atmospheric environments. Airborne MPs have raised concerns due to their transport and potential health risks of inhalation exposure. However, the factors influencing airborne MPs, particularly their concentrations and shapes suspended in urban air, remain unclear. We investigated MPs in total suspension particles with one-year measurements in Taipei City and identified their features using Nile Red staining combined with fluorescence microscopy and micro-Fourier transform infrared (μFTIR) spectroscopy. This study quantified the mean number concentration of total MPs as approximately 6.0 #/m³. We observed that MP abundance varied seasonally, with higher levels in the warm season than in the cold. A similar trend was noted for polymer types. Fragment-like MPs were the predominant shape, mainly found in polystyrene (PS), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP), while fibrous MPs, detected mostly as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA), were primarily observed at sizes greater than 300 μm. Both fiber and fragment-like MPs were positively associated with particle mass concentration, temperature, ultraviolet (UV) index, and wind speed, but negatively correlated with relative humidity and rainfall. Fibrous MPs were more affected by environmental factors than fragment-like MPs. Meteorological changes significantly influenced suspended MPs more than human activity within the city.
Subjects
Airborne microplastic
Analytical method
Environmental factors
Features
Suspension
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article