Author:
Won Sunjeong,Lee Ingyu,Park Jinsoo,Park Jeongmin,Kim Hyunook
Abstract
In this study, microplastics in atmospheric fine dust were isolated based on size and subsequently identified using μ-Raman. First, fine dust was collected using a high-volume air sampler with a stainless-steel (STS) filter; the STS filter, made of stainless steel of 1 μm pore size, was used in place of a traditional quartz filter. Particles collected by the filter were separated by gravity, followed by oxidation of the organic matter. The pretreated samples were refiltered using a silicon filter, followed by the identification of microplastics using μ-Raman. The collected air samples had 2.5 ± 2.0 (0.6-7.6) MPs/m3. The most detected material was polyethylene (64%), followed by nylon (20%), polyethylene terephthalate (5%), polystyrene (5%), and polypropylene (2%). The average size of the detected microplastics was 13.1 ± 9.0 (1.7-107.4) μm. The cumulative percentages show that particles 30 μm and smaller account for 96% of the total, 20 μm and smaller for 82%, and 10 μm and smaller for 46%. It was observed that microplastic abundance (MPs/m³) by date was not significantly correlated with precipitation or PM10.
Funder
National Institute of Environmental Research
Korea Environmental Industry and Technology Institute
Publisher
Korea Society of Environmental Analysis