By Arlo Bowe BSc. Arlo has a wide range of experience in a variety of areas, including environmental monitoring and sampling, microbiological techniques, ecological methods, and data analysis.
Understanding the Health Risks of Airborne Microplastics Indoors
Microplastics are small enough to be invisible in air but can accumulate in the body over time.
Microplastics are solid plastic particles that have been found across the globe in every environment, from the soil to the oceans, to the food we eat and the water we drink. With microplastic production projected to rise 70% by 2040 (OECD, 2024), there is an understandable risk involved.
In a 2022 report, it was stated that 22% of global plastics were labelled as being ‘mismanaged’; as in they were not disposed of in an environmentally sound manner (OECD, 2022). This includes the leakage of plastics into the environment, uncontrolled dumpsite disposal, and open pit incineration. This is one of the ways in which microplastics can get into the air we breathe.
As research progresses on the interaction between the health effects of microplastics on humans, an increasing number of studies are locating the presence of microplastics in various parts of the human body, such as in faeces, tissues, and blood (Yan et al., 2023).
What are Microplastics?
Microplastics are categorised as being smaller than 5mm in size and are insoluble. Large microplastics range between 5mm to 1mm. Small microplastics range between 1mm to 1μm in size. Nanoplastics consist of plastics below 1um in size.
Microplastics are inhalable below 10um in size and can deeply penetrate the respiratory system at PM2.5 and below, which can cause potential health issues as the microplastic bypasses the structure of the alveoli and makes its way into the bloodstream (Leslie et al., 2022). This causes an inflammatory response, limits nutrient uptake, and can cause lung toxicity, as well as suppressing immune response (Wang et al., 2025)
Where do the most common types of airborne microplastics come from?
- Synthetic fibres – Textile Industry
- Exhaust emissions and traffic wear – Transport Industry
- Building materials – Construction Industry
- Waste incineration emissions – Waste Disposal Industry
- Re-suspended dust in the environment or the home that contains tiny plastics
How can Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) measures improve microplastic inhalation?
It’s estimated that we spend 87% of our time indoors – so it has never been as crucial that we aim to keep our air clean and our families healthy (Klepeis et al., 2001).
You cannot see or smell tiny plastic particles, but there are some methods to avoid inhaling microplastics:
- Use an air cleaner that as been tested and proven to remove microplastics and contaminants from the air.
- When vacuuming dust, use a vacuum cleaner with a filter that is tested to ensure no plastic is left behind, or aerosolised into the air from your carpet.
- In your HVAC (heating, ventilation and air conditioning) system, make sure that there is appropriate filtration in place to remove microplastic particles.
- Aim to maintain a steady level of humidity (40-60%) indoors using your HVAC system – low humidity levels can affect static electricity, which indicates microplastics could be rendered airborne for longer.
Airmid Healthgroup: Expertise in Indoor Air Quality
According to the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, there was 1300 premature deaths in Ireland due to PM2.5 air pollution in 2020. Here at Airmid Healthgroup, we believe that controlling airborne microplastics in indoor spaces will have beneficial health outcomes for occupants.
Airmid Healthgroup is a globally recognized authority on indoor air quality (IAQ) and environmental health.
We offer cutting-edge testing services to consumer product manufacturers including supporting marketing claims and product performance evaluation. Products tested include air purifiers, vacuum cleaners, ventilation systems, building materials, floor coverings and cleaning products.
Our work is particularly relevant in the emerging field of microplastic aerosols, and we understand that optimizing IAQ can significantly impact human health. With a team of virologists, microbiologists, and environmental scientists, Airmid Healthgroup provides scientifically validated insights that help manufacturers, building managers, and policymakers ensure healthier indoor environments.
Interested in understanding how your products perform in removing airborne microplastics?
We are now offering a novel testing service where manufacturers can determine if their products have an impact on the removal or mitigation of microplastics from the air in indoor spaces.
Contact us today to discuss bespoke testing solutions tailored to your needs.
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Keywords
microplastics indoor air, airborne microplastics, indoor air quality, IAQ and microplastics, Airmid microplastic testing
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