The invisible pollutant
Tiny fragments of synthetic fibers, tire wear, and degraded plastics drift through the air in cities, offices, and even homes. Unlike waterborne plastics, which pass through the digestive system, airborne particles are inhaled and can settle deep in lung tissue.
Recent studies have already detected microplastics in human lungs, including fibers consistent with clothing textiles. Researchers estimate that inhalation alone may expose us to plastic particles equivalent to eating a credit card’s worth of plastic each week. Indoors, where synthetic textiles, carpets, and dust dominate, exposure levels may be even higher.
Health concerns
Particles lodged in lung tissue can trigger inflammation and scarring. Some fibers resemble asbestos in shape, raising concerns about long-term respiratory damage. Even more troubling are nanoplastics - small enough to cross into the bloodstream and potentially circulate throughout the body.
For people with asthma or chronic lung disease, plastic dust may worsen existing conditions. For children, whose lungs are still developing, the long-term risks remain largely unknown, but may be greater.
Cities, offices, and homes
Urban environments with heavy traffic generate significant microplastic pollution from tire wear. Indoors, synthetic textiles and household dust may expose office workers and families to high particle concentrations every day.
Air quality is no longer just about smog or pollen. It’s also about plastic.
Workplaces that once focused on reducing volatile organic compounds in paints or furniture now face another challenge: limiting exposure to airborne microplastics.
Rethinking air pollution
Airborne plastics add a new dimension to the fight for clean air. They are invisible, persistent, and present in spaces once assumed safe. Addressing them will require changes in materials, improved filtration systems, and updated urban policies.
The air we breathe is no longer just air. Ignoring that fact risks overlooking one of the most insidious forms of pollution of our time.
Sources & further reading
- Jenner, L.C. et al. (2022). Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy. Science of the Total Environment
- Wright, S.L. et al. (2020). Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and implications for human health. Environment International
- Abbasi, S. et al. (2019). Airborne microplastic pollution: a review of current evidence and future perspectives. Science of the Total Environment
