The common definition of microplastics is a plastic particle 100 nm to 5 mm in size. As a kind of atmospheric pollutant and particulate, microplastics have recently been detected in the atmosphere of urban, suburban, and even remote areas far away from source regions of microplastics, suggesting the potential long-distance atmospheric transport for microplastics.                                                                           

However, there still exist questions regarding the occurrence, fate, transport, and effect of atmospheric microplastics. Therefore, it is necessary to collate and compare current research findings, to determine the current state of knowledge and to compare atmospheric microplastic characteristics with microplastics from other environments. 

Recently, a research group led by Prof. KANG Shichang from Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources of CAS, together with their colleagues from universities at home and abroad, reviewed the current status of knowledge on atmospheric microplastics and the methods for sample collection, analysis and detection. 

Scientists reviewed and compared the methods used in the previous studies and provided recommendations for atmospheric microplastic sampling and measurement. 

Besides, scientists summarized the findings related to atmospheric microplastic characteristics, including abundance, size, shapes, colors, and polymer types. 

Furthermore, scientists also indicated that the potential impact of atmospheric microplastics on transport and deposition to remote areas and humans via food webs was as an emerging global concern. 

This study has been published on the Earth-Science Reviews in an article entitled “Atmospheric microplastics: A review on current status and perspectives”. 

Contact:

ZHANG Yulan

yulan.zhang@lzb.ac.cn 

State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Sciences, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000.