Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) pose a threat to ecosystems due to their capacity to bind with toxic chemicals. While the occurrence of MPs in aquatic environmental matrices like water, sediments, and biota is well studied, their presence in the atmosphere remains less understood. This study aimed to determine the presence of airborne MPs and their characteristics through ground-based sampling in the coastal city of Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Airborne MP samples were collected using passive sampling technique in December 2019. MPs were manually counted and identified using a stereomicroscope based on their colour and shape. The average deposition rate of airborne MPs during the sampling period was 5476 ± 3796 particles/m2/day, ranging from 576 to 15,562 particles/m2/day. Various colours such as transparent (38%), blue (25%), black (20%), red (13%), and others (4%) were observed. The predominant shape of airborne MPs was fibres (> 99%). The morphology structure of MPs observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM) showed a cracked surface on MPs, suggesting weathering and irregular fragmentation. Further elemental analysis using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) showed the presence of heavy metals such as aluminium (Al) and cadmium (Cd) on the surface of MPs, attributed to the adsorption capacities of MPs. Polymer types of airborne MPs were analysed using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), which revealed particles composed of polyester (PES), polyethylene (PE), and polypropylene (PP). The preliminary findings could provide additional information for further investigations of MPs, especially in the atmosphere, to better understand their sources and potential human exposure.
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Acknowledgements
The authors would like to thank Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT) for the financial support to conduct this research (UMT/TAPE-RG2020/Vot.55251). The authors would also like to extend their gratitude to Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG) members, especially Yuzwan Mohamad and Ahmad Ammarluddin Mohd Ali, for their technical support, and to the Centre of Research and Field Service and Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, UMT, for providing facilities and instrumentation in this study.
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This study was funded by the Universiti Malaysia Terengganu (UMT/TAPE-RG2020/Vot.55251).
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Naresh Kumar Chenappan: Investigation, Formal analysis, Writing—original draft. Yusof Shuaib Ibrahim: Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing—review & editing. Sabiqah Tuan Anuar: Formal analysis, Writing—review & editing. Ku Mohd Kalkausar Ku Yusof: Formal analysis, Data curation, Writing—review & editing. Maisarah Jaafar & Fatimah Ahamad: Writing—review & editing. Wan Zuriana Wan Sulaiman: Methodology, Resources. Noorlin Mohamad: Supervision, Funding acquisition, Conceptualization, Methodology, Writing—review & editing. All authors read, commented and agreed to the manuscript.
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Chenappan, N.K., Ibrahim, Y.S., Anuar, S.T. et al. Quantification and characterization of airborne microplastics in the coastal area of Terengganu, Malaysia. Environ Monit Assess 196, 242 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12381-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10661-024-12381-z