Abstract
Microplastics have attracted global attention as an emerging and ubiquitous contaminant in the environment. There are several pathways of human microplastic exposure, however, atmospheric microplastic pollution has yet rarely been elucidated systematically, especially the impact of atmospheric microplastics on human health. This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about microplastic pollution in atmosphere based on sample types, and the factors affecting microplastic transport or deposition as well as human exposure and potential risks on humans are discussed. Microplastics have been reported in suspended particular particles, atmospheric fallout, road dust and wet precipitation around the world, but the abundance of atmospheric microplastics varies in different regions. The abundance of microplastics in the atmosphere is greatly affected by human activities and meteorological factors, but the influence mechanisms on the transport and deposition processes remain to be clarified. Furthermore, atmospheric microplastics can pose potential health threats once inhaled, and the intake is age-related, with probably less intake for adults than children. Knowledge gaps and perspectives for further studies of atmospheric microplastic pollution status and human risk assessments are also proposed.
Published Version
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