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Airborne microplastics and plastic additives in a school environment: identification, quantification, and associated
Ana Torres-Agullo1, Angeliki Karanasiou2, Isabella Charres3
1Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA-CSIC), Jordi Girona 18-26, 08034 Barcelona, Spain; Department of Chemical Engineering and Analytical Chemistry, Universitat de Barcelona, Diagonal 645, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
Environment International
|September 4, 2025
Summary
Children are exposed to higher indoor airborne microplastics (MP) than outdoor levels, posing inhalation risks. This study highlights the need to monitor these pollutants in schools to protect children's health.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Public Health
Background:
- Indoor and outdoor air pollution negatively impacts human health, particularly in developing children.
- Microplastics (MP) are emerging environmental contaminants with largely unknown health implications.
- Schools are critical environments for assessing children's exposure to airborne pollutants.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess airborne microplastic concentrations and inhalation risks in a Portuguese school.
- To identify specific polymers and co-occurring pollutants in indoor and outdoor air.
- To evaluate children's daily MP inhalation dose.
Main Methods:
- Collected PM10 samples from classrooms and outdoor areas during winter and spring.
- Analyzed airborne MP using pyrolysis-gas chromatography coupled to Orbitrap-mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC-Orbitrap-MS).
- Employed Regions of Interest-Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating least squares (ROIMCR) for simultaneous targeted and untargeted analysis.
Main Results:
- Identified six polymers: polymethyl methacrylate, nylon-6,6, polypropylene, nitrile butadiene rubber, polyvinyl chloride, and polystyrene.
- Indoor MP concentrations (21.8 ± 16.3 ng/m³) were significantly higher than outdoor levels (13.4 ± 13.6 ng/m³).
- Median daily MP inhalation exposure for children was 1.57 ± 0.93 ng kg bw⁻¹ d⁻¹.
- Detected co-occurring pollutants including phthalates, pesticides, and nicotine.
Conclusions:
- Children in the studied school are continuously exposed to a complex mixture of airborne microplastics and hazardous additives.
- Higher indoor MP levels underscore the importance of indoor air quality in educational settings.
- Findings emphasize the need to include airborne MP in air quality assessments to protect children's health.
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