State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China; International Laboratory for Air Quality and Health (ILAQH), Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD 4000, Australia.
State Key Laboratory of Coal Resources and Safe Mining & College of Geoscience and Surveying Engineering, China University of Mining and Technology (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
J Environ Sci (China). 2025 Feb;148:602-613. doi: 10.1016/j.jes.2023.09.027. Epub 2023 Sep 26.
Airborne microplastics (MPs) are important pollutants that have been present in the environment for many years and are characterized by their universality, persistence, and potential toxicity. This study investigated the effects of terrestrial and marine transport of MPs in the atmosphere of a coastal city and compared the difference between daytime and nighttime. Laser direct infrared imaging (LDIR) and polarized light microscopy were used to characterize the physical and chemical properties of MPs, including number concentration, chemical types, shape, and size. Backward trajectories were used to distinguish the air masses from marine and terrestrial transport. Twenty chemical types were detected by LDIR, with rubber (16.7%) and phenol-formaldehyde resin (PFR; 14.8%) being major components. Three main morphological types of MPs were identified, and fragments (78.1%) are the dominant type. MPs in the atmosphere were concentrated in the small particle size segment (20-50 µm). The concentration of MPs in the air mass from marine transport was 14.7 items/m - lower than that from terrestrial transport (32.0 items/m). The number concentration of airborne MPs was negatively correlated with relative humidity. MPs from terrestrial transport were mainly rubber (20.2%), while those from marine transport were mainly PFR (18%). MPs in the marine transport air mass were more aged and had a lower number concentration than those in the terrestrial transport air mass. The number concentration of airborne MPs is higher during the day than at night. These findings could contribute to the development of targeted control measures and methods to reduce MP pollution.
空气中的微塑料（MPs）是一种重要的污染物，已经存在于环境中多年，具有普遍性、持久性和潜在毒性等特点。本研究调查了 MPs 在沿海城市大气中通过陆地和海洋传输的影响，并比较了白天和夜间的差异。激光直接红外成像（LDIR）和偏光显微镜用于表征 MPs 的物理和化学特性，包括数量浓度、化学类型、形状和大小。后向轨迹用于区分来自海洋和陆地传输的气团。LDIR 检测到 20 种化学类型，其中橡胶（16.7%）和酚醛树脂（PFR；14.8%）是主要成分。鉴定出三种主要的 MPs 形态类型，其中碎片（78.1%）是主要类型。大气中的 MPs 集中在小粒径段（20-50 µm）。来自海洋传输的气团中 MPs 的浓度为 14.7 个/立方米，低于来自陆地传输的气团（32.0 个/立方米）。空气中 MPs 的数量浓度与相对湿度呈负相关。来自陆地传输的 MPs 主要是橡胶（20.2%），而来自海洋传输的 MPs 主要是 PFR（18%）。来自海洋传输气团的 MPs 老化程度更高，数量浓度也低于来自陆地传输气团的 MPs。空气中 MPs 的数量浓度白天高于夜间。这些发现有助于制定有针对性的控制措施和方法，以减少 MPs 污染。
