Widespread distribution of PET and PC microplastics in dust in urban China and their estimated human exposure

Liu, Chunguang; Li, Jia; Zhang, Yilei; Wang, Lei; Deng, Jie; Gao, Yuan; Lu, Yu; Zhang, Junjie; Sun, Hongwen

doi:10.1016/j.envint.2019.04.024

Cited by 394 publications

(203 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Limitations were that shape and size data for individual particles were lost, and interpretation of the combined IR spectra from multiple, coincident polymers was more difficult. Alternatively, C. Liu, Li, et al () quantified polycarbonate and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in a variety of matrices by first depolymerizing them via alkali‐assisted thermal hydrolysis. They then used liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS) to detect the resulting bisphenol A and p‐phthalic acid, respectively.…”

Section: The Nature Of Plastics and Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concentrations of microplastics in the dust samples ranged from 2.8 to 20 particles g −1 and from <100 to 5,000 μm in size. C. Liu, Li, et al (), using the thermal hydrolysis/LC MS approach previously described, reported polyethylene terephthalate levels in Chinese indoor and outdoor dust up to 120,000 and 9,020 mg/kg, respectively. Polycarbonate concentrations were lower, that is, 4.6 and 2.0 mg/kg, respectively.…”

Section: Microplastics In the Indoor And Terrestrial Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The authors also employed FTIR microscopy and confirmed substantial numbers of polyester fibers in the dust, supporting the polyethylene terephthalate findings. The authors projected that the estimated daily intake of polyethylene terephthalate via dust ingestion for infants was 89,700 ng/kg‐bw/day (C. Liu, Li, et al, )…”

Section: Microplastics In the Indoor And Terrestrial Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

733

270

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Society has become increasingly reliant on plastics since commercial production began in about 1950. Their versatility, stability, light weight, and low production costs have fueled global demand. Most plastics are initially used and discarded on land. Nonetheless, the amount of microplastics in some oceanic compartments is predicted to double by 2030. To solve this global problem, we must understand plastic composition, physical forms, uses, transport, and fragmentation into microplastics (and nanoplastics). Plastic debris/microplastics arise from land disposal, wastewater treatment, tire wear, paint failure, textile washing, and at-sea losses. Riverine and atmospheric transport, storm water, and disasters facilitate releases. In surface waters plastics/microplastics weather, biofoul, aggregate, and sink, are ingested by organisms and redistributed by currents. Ocean sediments are likely the ultimate destination. Plastics release additives, concentrate environmental contaminants, and serve as substrates for biofilms, including exotic and pathogenic species. Microplastic abundance increases as fragment size decreases, as does the proportion of organisms capable of ingesting them. Particles <20 μm may penetrate cell membranes, exacerbating risks. Exposure can compromise feeding, metabolic processes, reproduction, and behavior. But more investigation is required to draw definitive conclusions. Human ingestion of contaminated seafood and water is a concern. Microplastics indoors present yet uncharacterized risks, magnified by the time we spend inside (>90%) and the abundance of polymeric products therein. Scientific challenges include improving microplastic sampling and characterization approaches, understanding long-term behavior, additive bioavailability, and organismal and ecosystem health risks. Solutions include improving globally based pollution prevention, developing degradable polymers and additives, and reducing consumption/expanding plastic reuse.

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Section: The Nature Of Plastics and Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microplastics In the Indoor And Terrestrial Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Microplastics In the Indoor And Terrestrial Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

A Global Perspective on Microplastics

Hale¹,

Seeley²,

Guardia³

et al. 2020

JGR Oceans

733

270

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…The remaining studies range from 0 to 800 particles m À2 d À1 . For deposited dust collected from surfaces, Iran presented much higher range of concentrations (2,000-60,000 particles mg À1 ; Abbasi et al 2019;Dehghani et al 2017) for outdoor air compared to China (6-620 particles mg À1 ; Liu et al 2019b). Indeed, the city of Tehran, Iran, is considered one of the most polluted cities at a global scale, with most pollution resulting from industries and transportation (Miri et al 2016).…”

Section: Synthetic Particles In the Atmosphere Current Observations Omentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Indeed, the city of Tehran, Iran, is considered one of the most polluted cities at a global scale, with most pollution resulting from industries and transportation (Miri et al 2016). In China, indoor environments continue to present slightly higher concentrations in deposition studies, ranging from 6 to 620 particles mg À1 , than in outdoor environments, ranging from 0 to 431 particles mg À1 (Liu et al 2019b). However, reporting as particles mg À1 limits the interpretation of results across space and time, as dust weight may 0 1 0 2 0 3 0 4 0 5 0 6 0 7 0…”

Section: Synthetic Particles In the Atmosphere Current Observations Omentioning

confidence: 99%