Atmospheric Micro and Nanoplastics: An Enormous Microscopic Problem

Angelica Bianco and Monica Passananti
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Angelica Bianco: Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland
Monica Passananti: Institute for Atmospheric and Earth System Research/Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Helsinki, FI-00014 Helsinki, Finland

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 18, 1-17

Abstract: Atmospheric plastic pollution is now a global problem. Microplastics (MP) have been detected in urban atmospheres as well as in remote and pristine environments, showing that suspension, deposition and aeolian transport of MP should be included and considered as a major transport pathway in the plastic life cycle. This work reports an up to date review of the experimental estimation of deposition rate of MP in rural and urban environment, also analyzing the correlation with meteorological factors. Due to the limitations in sampling and instrumental methodology, little is known about MP and nanoplastics (NP) with sizes lower than 50 µm. In this review, we describe how NP could be transported for longer distances than MP, making them globally present and potentially more concentrated than MP. We highlight that it is crucial to explore new methodologies to collect and analyze NP. Future research should focus on the development of new technologies, combining the existent knowledge on nanomaterial and atmospheric particle analysis.

Keywords: plastic cycle; micro and nanoplastics; transport; atmosphere (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:12:y:2020:i:18:p:7327-:d:409996

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