Airborne plastic pollution may be travelling further, faster and with greater consequences than previously thought, according to new research led by scientists at The University of Manchester.
A new review highlights knowledge gaps about the scale, sources and behaviour of microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) in the atmosphere – and calls for the creation of a global monitoring network to track their movement.
Schematic of AMNPs lifecycle. The black arrows indicate the emission of MNPs into the atmosphere. The blue arrows illustrate the atmospheric transport process, where AMNPs are rapidly carried over long distances by airflows. The red arrows represent the deposition process, which deposits AMNPs onto the ground, leading to their long-term accumulation in various ecosystems
Microplastics, defined as particles smaller than 5 mm, and nanoplastics, smaller than one micron, are produced when plastic waste degrades through sunlight, weathering, and biological processes, or directly released via industrial activities, tyre abrasion and textile shedding.
Characterised by their small size and low density, these particles can be lifted into the atmosphere and carried thousands of miles within days, crossing oceans and continents. They have been detected everywhere from urban centres to polar ice, deserts and stratospheric air samples.
While the presence of atmospheric MNPs (AMNPs) is now widely acknowledged, their lifecycle remains poorly understood. Estimates of the total amount entering the atmosphere vary dramatically – from as little as 800 tonnes to nearly 9 million tonnes annually.
Equally uncertain is whether most airborne plastic originates from land-based sources, such as road traffic and industrial emissions or from the ocean, where sea spray can inject plastics into the air.
Dr. Zhonghua Zheng, lead author and Co-Lead for Environmental Data Science & AI at the Manchester Environmental Research Institute said: ‘The scale of uncertainty around how much plastic is entering our atmosphere is alarming. Plastic pollution can have serious consequences for human health and ecosystems, so in order to assess the risks, we need better data, better models, and global coordination.’
Apart from health risk airborne plastics pose to humans, studies also suggest ecological impacts, ranging from disrupted soil chemistry and reduced pollinator activity to interference with plant nutrient cycles. At a larger scale, microplastics could even influence cloud formation and radiative forcing, suggesting a possible climate impact.
The review identifies major barriers to progress: inconsistent sampling techniques, oversimplified atmospheric models, and limited real-world data. Current measurement practices differ widely, making it difficult to compare studies or build a coherent global picture.
To close these gaps, the authors propose a multi-pronged strategy. Central to their vision is a globally standardised network of observation stations, supported by harmonised sampling protocols. Improved numerical models would more accurately simulate particle behaviour under different environmental conditions. Artificial intelligence could then integrate these datasets, identifying hidden patterns and improving predictive power.
By combining high-quality observations, advanced modelling and AI-driven analysis, scientists hope to uncover the full atmospheric cycle of MNPs – how they are emitted, transported, transformed and eventually deposited. Such an integrated approach, they argue, would lay the foundation for informed policymaking, effective environmental management and ultimately, reduced plastic emissions.
Fei Jiang, PhD researcher at The University of Manchester said: ‘By adopting this integrated approach, we can fundamentally transform how we understand and manage this emerging threat. AI can play a powerful role in analysing data and simulating plastic movement, it can help make sense of fragmented datasets, detect hidden patterns, and integrate information from multiple sources – but it needs good quality data to work with. All of these areas must work hand in hand to manage this emerging threat and shape effective global pollution strategies.’
As global plastic production continues to climb – reaching 400 million tonnes annually – the researchers warn that airborne microplastics represent a rapidly escalating frontier in the plastic pollution crisis. Addressing it, they conclude, will require international cooperation on the scale of other global monitoring efforts, such as climate and atmospheric greenhouse gases.
The full research can be read here.
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