Evaluation of deposited atmospheric microplastic characteristic within Malaysia cities airshed

Abstract

The abundance of plastic pollution is a global issue posing a threat to all living things. The breakdown of plastic between 1 to 5,000 µm in size, known as microplastic (MPs), has commonly been found in all regions as an emerging environmental pollutant in recent years. Presence of MPs in the ambient air poses hazard to the environment and health as it can also carry other pollutant. Preliminary research has found that the MPs contamination in the air would give health effect such as lung inflammation and increase the risk of infertility and cancer. To date, the atmospheric MPs deposition in Malaysia is still unknown. In this regard, this research aims to evaluate the presence and characteristics of MPs in Malaysia. The deposition of atmospheric MPs sample was collected in Kuala Lumpur due to the high number of traffic activities and populations and the rural area, which is in Timah Tasoh, Perlis. The physical characteristics of MPs were categorized by shape, colours, and size using a stereo-zoom microscope. The most common MPs shapes and colours were fiber and black, respectively. The atmospheric MPs found a range between 50–5,000 µm in size. With increased worries about its effects on living species, MPs pollution is predicted to worsen during the ensuing decades. This data will provide a holistic picture of the MPs significant primary discoveries, knowledge gaps, and future challenges in comprehending this emerging contaminant.