At ENVEA, we’re constantly developing new solutions for monitoring air quality and emissions. The impact and spread of airborne microplastics is becoming more evident.
To minimize and prevent future harm, we are actively looking for ways to overcome this next environmental health challenge.
We recently spoke with Jürgen Gratzl, a PhD student in the research group Physical Chemistry of the Atmosphere, led by Professor Hinrich Grothe at the TU Wien in Vienna.
Jürgen has spent years studying the tiniest of particles. From bioaerosols like pollen grains to microplastics, he has critical insights into the behaviour and detection of allergens and pollutants in our air.
Most recently, his research has focused on the detection and characterization of airborne microplastics, further expanding our understanding of emerging particulate pollutants. Read on for his expert insights into these little understood particles.
JG: Different definitions for airborne microplastics exist, but the most common definition is that it groups particles made of synthetic polymers, smaller than 5 mm in size, down to 1 µm that are present in the air. There are also nanoplastic particles, which are even smaller – below 1 µm.
Microplastics can be found indoors and outdoors but higher concentrations are usually found indoors, including fibres from textiles. Particles made of fibres typically remain in the air for longer than fragments of a similar size, making places like textile factories higher risk for exposure. Similarly, waste treatment facilities that process plastics are a hotspot for airborne microplastics.
The microplastic particles in water and soil tend to be larger, as smaller particles stay suspended in the air. Airborne particles can be inhaled and spread throughout the human body.
JG: It is less my area of expertise but there is research on the health effects using animal models and cell cultures. It has been proven that microplastics generate inflammation, but based on the available monitoring techniques these studies probably used a much higher level of exposure compared to ambient concentrations. More precise measurements are needed to evaluate the correlation between health effects and exposure.
Some studies have looked at the effect on workers in the textile industry who are exposed to high levels of microplastics. There was evidence of a higher rate of diseases like cancer and respiratory diseases, and inflammation. The general impact on the population in ambient air is still not well understood.
JG: The microplastics in the air come from several sources including industrial processes, degradation of larger plastic pieces, everyday shedding of fibres from clothing, and tire wear.
The last one may surprise people, but in high-traffic urban areas or near major roads, the principal contributor of microplastic particles is tire wear. Tires contain a high percentage of synthetic polymers. As tires wear down with use – the materials don’t simply disappear. They end up as tire dust which contains microplastics that become airborne.
Another major contributor comes from the fragmentation of larger plastic pieces through physical, biological or photochemical degradation from routine exposure to UV. In general, the concentration scales with population size and the level of industrialization of a region.
Agricultural practices are also a source of airborne microplastics. Especially the polyethylene films used to cover crops, which degrade over time with use and sun exposure.
Microplastics can also be emitted from the ocean. However, recent studies indicate that it is not as much of a contributor as we first thought. The ocean acts more as a sink than a source of airborne microplastics. This means the ocean absorbs more microplastics from the atmosphere than it puts back.
We don’t yet understand the complete list of sources and their emission levels. Data is missing to exactly quantify the sources and filling this gap will be an important area of study in the near future to gain a greater understanding of airborne microplastics.
JG: There is some interaction between microplastics and other pollutants. For example, researchers found that the concentration of µplastics correlates with the presence of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons – some of which are highly toxic and carcinogenic. There is a suspicion that the plastic absorbs them and acts as a carrier. There is similar evidence for the carrying of polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAs), the so-called “forever chemicals”. So that is creating a particularly toxic mixture of particulates and gases.
JG: Nothing exists specifically targeting airborne microplastics. The World Health Organization (WHO) have said more data is required before they can make recommendations on specific limits. The general issue of microplastics is starting to generate discussion of specific regulations. For example, requirements for washing machine manufacturers to fit filters that prevent plastic from entering the water after a wash cycle has been widely discussed. So far, France is the first (and only) country to pass legislation on this – but we expect more to follow.
JG: Reducing individual car use can help cut tire particle emissions.
The research already available on tire wear could influence urban planning – pedestrianizing areas reduces the need for individual cars and ultimately reduce the amount of tire dust shed.
We can also make more sustainable buying choices when it comes to clothes. Research has shown that higher levels of microplastics are released in the first few washes of new clothes. By choosing clothes with natural fibres, buying second-hand, and using washing machines that filter microplastics we can limit the particles entering our water.
Most obviously, we can use fewer plastic bags, and less packaging in general. Plastic bags degrade over time, and shed microplastics that end up in the soil, water, and air. It isn’t just the bags in landfill we should be worried about. Many get sent for incineration which also releases microplastics into the atmosphere. It’s important to make sure that you dispose the plastics you use correctly and be conscious of the plastics that cannot easily be recycled.
JG: Today, nothing is standardized for monitoring microplastics in the air. Even sampling and preparation methods vary greatly, so it is difficult to compare studies and measures. Standardization is something very important to develop, and we’re working at the forefront of these efforts at TU Wien.
We already know several technologies can effectively be used. Both Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Raman microscopy can be used to identify the chemical structure. While FTIR is limited to 10µm size, Raman microscopy can go down to 1µm, but it can be interfered from additives present in the microplastics. Some particles can be dyed to allow their study under a fluorescence microscope. Neither can be used for real-time monitoring, but intrinsic fluorescence of single microplastic particles offers a plausible approach to monitor them in real-time, which gives it a large advantage.
JG: The biggest challenge is with measuring the smaller particles (under 1 µm). There are currently no technologies available that can simultaneously count very small particles and classify them as µplastics despite growing evidence that the concentration of microplastics increases strongly with decreasing particle size. This makes monitoring industrial emissions, or from traffic, hard to track. Moreover, no real-time technique for microplastic detection currently exists, which means low time resolution and high time expenditure.
JG: Monitoring will allow researchers to track more emission sources of microplastics and then act on them. We’d gain a better understanding of the impacts on health and could follow through with data-backed measures. This has been effective for other pollutants. First, we must understand the sources and the impact of airborne microplastics, then we can act to reduce them.
JG: Of course, I suggest…
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