Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Wright, SL
Ulke, J
Font Font, AM
Chan, KLA
Kelly, FJ
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Microplastics are a global environmental issue contaminating aquatic and terrestrial environments. They have been reported in atmospheric deposition, and indoor and outdoor air, raising concern for public health due to the potential for exposure. Moreover, the atmosphere presents a new vehicle for microplastics to enter the wider environment, yet our knowledge of the quantities, characteristics and pathways of airborne microplastics is sparse. Here we show microplastics in atmospheric deposition in a major population centre, central London. Microplastics were found in all samples, with deposition rates ranging from 575 to 1008 microplastics/m2/d. They were found in various shapes, of which fibrous microplastics accounted for the great majority (92%). Across all samples, 15 different petrochemical-based polymers were identified. Bivariate polar plots indicated dependency on wind, with different source areas for fibrous and non-fibrous airborne microplastics. This is the first evidence of airborne microplastics in London and confirms the need to include airborne pathways when consolidating microplastic impacts on the wider environment and human health.
Date Issued
2020-03-01
Date Acceptance
2019-12-10
Citation
Environment International, 2020, 136, pp.1-7
ISSN
0160-4120
Publisher
Elsevier
Start Page
1
End Page
7
Journal / Book Title
Environment International
Volume
136
Copyright Statement
© 2019 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/BY/4.0/).
License URL
Sponsor
Medical Research Council (MRC)
Identifier
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0160412019330351?via%3Dihub
Grant Number
MR/M501669/1
Subjects
Air pollution
Atmospheric deposition
Microplastics
Urban
Atmosphere
Environmental Monitoring
Humans
London
Microplastics
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Humans
Water Pollutants, Chemical
Atmosphere
Environmental Monitoring
London
Microplastics
Environmental Sciences
Publication Status
Published
Article Number
ARTN 105411
Date Publish Online
2019-12-27