Dataset Information

Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics are a global environmental issue contaminating aquatic and terrestrial environments. They have been reported in atmospheric deposition, and indoor and outdoor air, raising concern for public health due to the potential for exposure. Moreover, the atmosphere presents a new vehicle for microplastics to enter the wider environment, yet our knowledge of the quantities, characteristics and pathways of airborne microplastics is sparse. Here we show microplastics in atmospheric deposition in a major population centre, central London. Microplastics were found in all samples, with deposition rates ranging from 575 to 1008 microplastics/m2/d. They were found in various shapes, of which fibrous microplastics accounted for the great majority (92%). Across all samples, 15 different petrochemical-based polymers were identified. Bivariate polar plots indicated dependency on wind, with different source areas for fibrous and non-fibrous airborne microplastics. This is the first evidence of airborne microplastics in London and confirms the need to include airborne pathways when consolidating microplastic impacts on the wider environment and human health.

SUBMITTER: Wright SL

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7013824 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport.

Wright S L SL Ulke J J Font A A Chan K L A KLA Kelly F J FJ

Environment international 20191227

Microplastics are a global environmental issue contaminating aquatic and terrestrial environments. They have been reported in atmospheric deposition, and indoor and outdoor air, raising concern for public health due to the potential for exposure. Moreover, the atmosphere presents a new vehicle for microplastics to enter the wider environment, yet our knowledge of the quantities, characteristics and pathways of airborne microplastics is sparse. Here we show microplastics in atmospheric deposition ...[more]

PMID: 31889555

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Project description:BackgroundActive school transport (AST) can increase children's and adolescents' physical activity. The proportion of children and adolescents who engage in AST has declined internationally in recent decades. This study examines the prevalence, correlates, and perceived barriers to AST in the city of Leipzig, Germany.MethodsThe study sample includes 1070 participants, 364 children and 706 adolescents, aged between 6 and 18 years, as well as their parents. The parents as well as adolescents age 10 and above completed questionnaires concerning sociodemographic variables, means of transport/AST and perceived barriers to AST. The distance between home and school was calculated as the network distance from the home to school address using the Dijkstra algorithm. Based on these data, logistic models were fitted in a two-step variable selection process, using AST as the dependent variable.ResultsApproximately half of the children (59%) and adolescents (51%) engaged in AST. The prevalence of AST exhibited a negative correlation with age (Odds Ratio (OR) = 0.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.9-0.99, p = 0.015) and did not significantly differ by gender (children: ORgirls = 1.5, CI = 0.95-2.25, p = 0.075, adolescents: ORgirls = 1.01, CI = 0.75-1.37, p = 0.924). A high socioeconomic status was positively correlated to AST on the morning trip (OR = 1.7, CI 1.3-2.21, p < 0.01) but negatively on the afternoon trip (OR = 0.7, CI = 0.53-0.9, p < 0.01) in the summer. Common barriers for children (from their parents' perspective) and for adolescents (from their own and their parents' perspective) were distance and a heavy load to carry. The parents of adolescents did not perceive any other specific barriers as a serious impediment. Further significant barriers perceived by the younger children's parents were adults giving a lift on the way to other errands, no other children to walk or cycle with, and too much traffic. Too much traffic was also a significant barrier for adolescents, as were taking too much time and bad weather conditions.ConclusionsFuture interventions promoting AST in an urban environment should be guided by the identified perceived barriers.Trial registrationLIFE Child has been retrospectively registered with ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02550236).

Dataset Information

Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport.

Publications

Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport.

Similar Datasets

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