1. Microplastics in the atmospheric compartment: a comprehensive review on methods, results on their occurrence and determining factors
- Author
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Max Beaurepaire, Bruno Tassin, Rachid Dris, Johnny Gasperi, Laboratoire Eau Environnement et Systèmes Urbains (LEESU), École des Ponts ParisTech (ENPC)-Université Paris-Est Créteil Val-de-Marne - Paris 12 (UPEC UP12), Eau et Environnement (GERS-LEE ), and Université Gustave Eiffel
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Pollution ,Microplastics ,media_common.quotation_subject ,MATIERE PLASTIQUE ,Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology ,Atmosphere ,03 medical and health sciences ,0404 agricultural biotechnology ,REVIEW ,Compartment (pharmacokinetics) ,media_common ,MICROPLASTIQUE ,030109 nutrition & dietetics ,MICROPLASTICS ,AIR ,Suspended particles ,04 agricultural and veterinary sciences ,Numerical models ,ATMOSPHERE ,040401 food science ,Deposition (aerosol physics) ,13. Climate action ,Environmental chemistry ,[SDE]Environmental Sciences ,Environmental science ,Food Science - Abstract
While microplastics (MPs) have been studied since the beginning of the century, their occurrence in the atmospheric compartment was only described recently. Based on 33 published papers, this work reviews the literature on microplastic pollution in the air and in atmospheric deposition. Methodologies are examined and compared, along with main results. Currently, the atmospheric compartment is sampled by an array of methods that target either atmospheric deposition or suspended particles in the air. Concentrations vary greatly between studies, due to differences in methodologies and types of targeted samples. The review concludes that while MP presence is confirmed in the atmospheric compartment, knowledge remains very limited at all levels. More work is required to determine factors affecting atmospheric MP concentrations and deposition, although precipitations and human presence are suspected. MPs are transported over long distances in the atmosphere. However, numerical models of this transport and definite assessment of sources are lacking.
- Published
- 2021
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