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We present here the analysis of the radiocarbon concentration and the components deposited on 2-year-old Pinus sylvestris L. needles collected in 2021, which were exposed to air contaminants for approximately two years. The needles were collected from seven sampling sites located near roads, households, and industrial factories in Silesia, the most industrialized part of Poland. The radiocarbon concentration was investigated using liquid scintillation spectrometry. Scanning electron microscopy and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy were used to quantitatively analyze the elements deposited on the surface of pine needles. The depletion of the radiocarbon concentration in pine needles relative to clean air was observed at most of the investigated sites. Although it has been observed that in the research area, the fossil fuel CO2 emission ranging from 0.4 to 3%, we cannot exclude that Suess effect may be underestimated due to biomass burning and mixing of the 14CO2 origin from different sources. A significant amount of silicon, nitrogen, and sulfur was commonly found in samples, Metal elements of Ca, Fe, Al, Mg, and K were also present in most samples. Heavier elements of Fe and Ti were present in higher concentrations only in needles obtained from sites nearer to the heat and power plant in Łaziska Górne. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing amount of marine microplastics and nanoplastics is due to primary (P-MPs) and secondary sources (S-MPs). Among small P-MPs and fibres from textiles, nurdles or industrial dust, the microbeads from cosmetics (peelings, scrubs) are dominant. The polyethylene and polypropylene debris, already <5 mm, enlarge Plastisphere and have a complex influence on environmental processes. Fortunately, the situation has changed with the limitation of synthetic materials in scrubs in recent years. This paper summarizes the six years of studies (2015–2021) on microplastics in cosmetics available on the Polish market. It focuses on those still available and presents the potential of Raman spectroscopy for the efficient qualitative and quantitative characterization of those materials. Finally, surface morphology's vital role in microplastics' general behaviour is underlined. The SEM/EDX and numerical modelling enables a more detailed description of particles. [Display omitted] • Raman spectroscopy of microbeads in cosmetics currently available on the Polish market. • The underlined crucial role of morphology in sorptive properties. • SEM/EDX evidence of diversified morphology and composition of microbeads. • Numerical description and classification of primary MPs. • PE quantitative characterization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]