Microplastics suspended in dust from different indoor environments in Barranquilla, Colombia: Predominant microparticles?

Considering that microplastics (MPs) are classified as ubiquitous pollutants, that air quality affects human health, and that people remain indoors most of the time, the need has arisen to evaluate the exposure to MPs within the suspended dust in indoor environments. With this objective, the present study carried out passive sampling to analyze the precipitation of microparticles in some indoor residential environments (2 apartments) and workplaces (an office, a pastry shop, a gift shop, and a paint shop) in Barranquilla, Colombia. The quantification and physical characterization of microparticles were carried out under a stereomicroscope, and the chemical characterization was carried out by infrared microspectroscopy (μFTIR).

Geographical heterogeneity and dominant polymer types in microplastic contamination of lentic ecosystems: implications for methodological standardization and future research.

This study examines the prevalence and distribution of microplastic polymer types in lentic ecosystems, revealing significant heterogeneity across different geographical regions and ecosystems. The most dominant type of microplastic observed was polyethylene (PE), followed by polypropylene (PP) and polystyrene (PS), which aligns with global production rates. North America, Asia, and Europe were identified as the regions with the highest microplastic contamination, with the United States, China, Italy, and Spain being the most affected countries.

Decoding plastic pollution in the geological record: A baseline study on the Caribbean Coast of Colombia, north South America.

This study presents the first report of plastics in the geological record (rocks and formations composed of plastics) along the central Caribbean Coast of Colombia, northern coast of South America. These novel records of pollution include two rock types (plastiglomerates and quartz plastisandstones), two altered plastic types (pyroplastics and plasticrusts), two soil types (plasticlasts and anthrosols), and a series of artifacts (fossils) found near human settlements. All of them were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy.