Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles

Introduction: Airborne microplastics are part of air pollution that can enter the body orally, through direct contact with the skin and inhalation. Microplastic pollution raises concerns about health and environmental impacts, especially in urban areas with high activity. This study aims to characte...

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Main Authors: Mimin Setia Wati, Akas Yekti Pulih, Maki Zamzam, Edza Aria Wikurendra
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universitas Airlangga 2025-04-01
Series:Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan
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Online Access:https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/article/view/70537
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author Mimin Setia Wati
Akas Yekti Pulih
Maki Zamzam
Edza Aria Wikurendra
author_facet Mimin Setia Wati
Akas Yekti Pulih
Maki Zamzam
Edza Aria Wikurendra
author_sort Mimin Setia Wati
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: Airborne microplastics are part of air pollution that can enter the body orally, through direct contact with the skin and inhalation. Microplastic pollution raises concerns about health and environmental impacts, especially in urban areas with high activity. This study aims to characterize microplastic particles suspended in the air on urban roads by identifying the type, size, and total number of particles. Methods: Sampling method was carried out systematically in four strategic locations with high traffic levels. Laboratory analysis using a combination of spectroscopy and optical microscopy techniques were carried out to identify the type of polymer contained in the particles and to measure the particle size distribution in detail. Results and Discussion: This study identified a total of 223 airborne microplastic particles across four urban sites, dominated by fiber types (>80%), likely from synthetic textiles. Particle sizes ranged from 0.2 mm to 4.8 mm, with Small Microplastics (<1 mm) comprising over 60% and posing potential respiratory health risks. The highest concentration was found at Point 2 (63 particles), influenced by high traffic and nearby industry. Conclusion: Microplastics, which are predominantly in the form of fibers, especially small (<1 mm) in size, which are easily dispersed by the wind and have the potential to endanger health through inhalation, are thought to come from tire friction and industrial and household activities.
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publisher Universitas Airlangga
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spelling doaj-art-2a2afc6f55984b28888151f0705fbde12025-08-20T02:14:02ZengUniversitas AirlanggaJurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan1829-72852540-881X2025-04-0117216817610.20473/jkl.v17i2.2025.168-17668726Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total ParticlesMimin Setia Wati0Akas Yekti Pulih1https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9896-3822Maki Zamzam2https://orcid.org/0009-0006-8930-1695Edza Aria Wikurendra3https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5020-375XDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237 Surabaya, IndonesiaDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237 Surabaya, IndonesiaDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237 Surabaya, IndonesiaDepartment of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Universitas Nahdlatul Ulama Surabaya, 60237 Surabaya, Indonesia; Department of Health Sciences, Faculty of Humanities and Health Sciences, Curtin University, 98009 Miri, MalaysiaIntroduction: Airborne microplastics are part of air pollution that can enter the body orally, through direct contact with the skin and inhalation. Microplastic pollution raises concerns about health and environmental impacts, especially in urban areas with high activity. This study aims to characterize microplastic particles suspended in the air on urban roads by identifying the type, size, and total number of particles. Methods: Sampling method was carried out systematically in four strategic locations with high traffic levels. Laboratory analysis using a combination of spectroscopy and optical microscopy techniques were carried out to identify the type of polymer contained in the particles and to measure the particle size distribution in detail. Results and Discussion: This study identified a total of 223 airborne microplastic particles across four urban sites, dominated by fiber types (>80%), likely from synthetic textiles. Particle sizes ranged from 0.2 mm to 4.8 mm, with Small Microplastics (<1 mm) comprising over 60% and posing potential respiratory health risks. The highest concentration was found at Point 2 (63 particles), influenced by high traffic and nearby industry. Conclusion: Microplastics, which are predominantly in the form of fibers, especially small (<1 mm) in size, which are easily dispersed by the wind and have the potential to endanger health through inhalation, are thought to come from tire friction and industrial and household activities.https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/article/view/70537airbornemicroplasticssizetypeurban roads
spellingShingle Mimin Setia Wati
Akas Yekti Pulih
Maki Zamzam
Edza Aria Wikurendra
Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles
Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan
airborne
microplastics
size
type
urban roads
title Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles
title_full Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles
title_fullStr Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles
title_full_unstemmed Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles
title_short Characterization of Airborne Microplastics Particles on Urban Roads: Types, Sizes, and Total Particles
title_sort characterization of airborne microplastics particles on urban roads types sizes and total particles
topic airborne
microplastics
size
type
urban roads
url https://e-journal.unair.ac.id/JKL/article/view/70537
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AT makizamzam characterizationofairbornemicroplasticsparticlesonurbanroadstypessizesandtotalparticles
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