Characterization of the Morphological and Chemical Profile of Different Families of Microplastics in Samples of Breathable Air

Microplastic (MP) contamination has become a problem of great interest to the community at large. The detection of these particles in different ecosystems and foods has been the subject of study. However, the focus of these investigations has been on the identification and quantification of PM by DS...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inMolecules (Basel, Switzerland) Vol. 28; no. 3; p. 1042
Main Authors Hernández-Fernández, Joaquín, Puello-Polo, Esneyder, Castro-Suarez, John R
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Switzerland MDPI AG 20.01.2023
MDPI
Subjects
Air pollution
Causes of
Chemical properties
DSC
Food contamination
Health aspects
Identification
Measurement
Microplastics
morphological profile
Morphology
Neighborhoods
Parameters
Particle size
Particles
Plastic pollution
pollution
Polyethylenes
Pyr-GC/MS
respirable air
Respiration
Roundness
Colombia
microplastics
respirable air
Pyr-GC/MS
morphological profile
pollution
DSC
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Summary:Microplastic (MP) contamination has become a problem of great interest to the community at large. The detection of these particles in different ecosystems and foods has been the subject of study. However, the focus of these investigations has been on the identification and quantification of PM by DSC and Pyr-GC/MS and not on how they are transported to reach the air we breathe. In this study, the values of morphological parameters for plastic particles in a range between 1 and 2000 µm, present in the breathable air of 20 neighborhoods in the city of Cartagena, Colombia, were obtained to determine the characteristics that make these particles airborne. The values of parameters were obtained, such as roundness, sphericity, curvature, and the convexity of the particle, as well as its compactness and size, which influence its transport through the air and its ability to be ingested and inhaled. The data obtained in this study allows for simulations and the analysis of the behavior of microplastics once in the environment to predict future settlements. The DSC showed us the melting temperatures of PP, PE, PET, and PS, the Pyr-GC/MS showed the fragmentation patterns, and the presence of these MPs in the samples was confirmed.
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ISSN:1420-3049
1420-3049
DOI:10.3390/molecules28031042