Indoor microplastics and bacteria in the atmospheric fallout in urban homes

• Published in: The Science of the total environment 2022-12, Vol.852, p.158233, Article 158233
• Main Authors: Cui, Jiawen, Chen, Chen, Gan, Quan, Wang, Tongfei, Li, Wei, Zeng, Wen, Xu, Xiaowen, Chen, Gang, Wang, Li, Lu, Zhaogeng, Li, Jiana, Jin, Biao
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Age; air; Airborne MP; atmospheric deposition; bacterial communities; community structure; elderly; environment; family; Health risk; Home; humans; Microbiota; microorganisms; microplastics; polyamides; polyethylene; polyurethanes
• ISSN: 0048-9697
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.158233

Humans may be exposed to microplastics (MPs) through food, drink, and air. Although several studies have examined indoor environmental MPs, none have yet compared atmospheric MP and bacterial deposition characteristics among rooms in homes. We investigated indoor airborne MPs and bacteria in five room types (bedroom, dining room, living room, bathroom, and study) based on the duration of usage of each room. We identified synthetic polymers (23,889 MP particles of 21 types) and bacterial communities (383 genera belong to 24 phyla) collected through atmospheric deposition in various rooms of 20 homes. The abundance and composition of MPs are related to the duration of usage, human activities, goods, cleanliness, and the composition of occupants (family members) in households. In addition, the homes of elderly families (age 68–81 years) showed higher bacterial concentrations than those of young families (age 28–35 years), indicating that age markedly affects the structure of household microbiota. Furthermore, a significant correlation between MP concentration and bacterial community structure was observed. The abundances of polyamide (PA), polyurethane (PU), and polyethylene (PE) showed positive correlations with the relative abundances of major bacterial phyla. Taken together, our results suggest that various rooms in the home exhibit distinct MP abundances and bacterial structures that may be affected by age, cleanliness, and human activities. Distinct airborne microplastics and bacterial community structures in different room types and occupant ages based on 100 sampling locations (600 samples) in 20 family homes. The abundance and structure of airborne MPs are related to the duration of usage, intensity of human activities, wear of goods, cleanliness, and the composition of occupants (family members) in households. Age markedly affects the structure of household microbiota. [Display omitted] •Airborne microplastics and bacteria among major household rooms are varied.•PA, PU, PET, and PE are the primary polymers of MPs in the sampled household rooms.•Microplastics