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Airborne Microplastics in indoor environments: current knowledge, methodological challenges, and future directions.

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Title: Airborne Microplastics in indoor environments: current knowledge, methodological challenges, and future directions.
Authors: Campanale, Claudia1 (AUTHOR) claudia.campanale@iss.it, Barlucchi, Leonardo2 (AUTHOR), Piccardi, Augusta1 (AUTHOR), La Nasa, Jacopo2 (AUTHOR), Modugno, Francesca2 (AUTHOR), De Rossi, Marcello3 (AUTHOR), Palumbo, Lorenzo1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Building & Environment. Jun2026, Vol. 297, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subject Terms: *Built environment, *Polymers, *Environmental exposure, Microplastics, Sampling methods, Toxicological interactions, Risk assessment, Experimental design
Abstract: Indoor environments are increasingly recognized as notable reservoirs and exposure pathways for airborne microplastics (AMPs). This narrative review shows the outcomes from 57 observational studies published between 2017 and 2025, focusing on the occurrence, abundance, and characteristics of MPs in residential and collective indoor spaces. Methodological variability strongly affects the comparability of results. In sampling, 56 % of studies used active air collection, 37 % passive techniques, and 5 % combined strategies. Different pretreatment and analytical approaches were employed, including microscopy, µ-FTIR, µ-Raman, and Py-GC–MS. Reported concentrations range from 0.5 to 14,088 MPs/m³ in residential settings and from 2 to 8305 MPs/m³ in collective environments, exceeding outdoor control levels (mean ∼260 MPs/m³) by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. Temporal and spatial variability is a key factor influencing concentrations, along with synthetic textiles, limited ventilation, finishing materials, the number of occupants, and seasonal effects. Fibers dominate in most indoor spaces, with polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon as the most frequently identified polymers. The human exposure assessment suggests AMP intake ranging from hundreds to several thousand particles per day, with children potentially assuming higher doses per body weight. However, variability in dose metrics limits comparability across studies. Overall, the findings underscore indoor air as a critical but underexplored exposure pathway, with significant knowledge gaps regarding methodologies and toxicological implications. This review outlines unmet needs and proposes a roadmap to move towards harmonized protocols integrating toxicological assays as priorities to strengthen risk assessment and inform mitigation strategies for AMPs in indoor environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Building & Environment is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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  Data: Airborne Microplastics in indoor environments: current knowledge, methodological challenges, and future directions.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Campanale%2C+Claudia%22">Campanale, Claudia</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> claudia.campanale@iss.it</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Barlucchi%2C+Leonardo%22">Barlucchi, Leonardo</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Piccardi%2C+Augusta%22">Piccardi, Augusta</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22La+Nasa%2C+Jacopo%22">La Nasa, Jacopo</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Modugno%2C+Francesca%22">Modugno, Francesca</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22De+Rossi%2C+Marcello%22">De Rossi, Marcello</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Palumbo%2C+Lorenzo%22">Palumbo, Lorenzo</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Building+%26+Environment%22">Building & Environment</searchLink>. Jun2026, Vol. 297, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
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  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Built+environment%22">Built environment</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Polymers%22">Polymers</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Environmental+exposure%22">Environmental exposure</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microplastics%22">Microplastics</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sampling+methods%22">Sampling methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Toxicological+interactions%22">Toxicological interactions</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Risk+assessment%22">Risk assessment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Experimental+design%22">Experimental design</searchLink>
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  Data: Indoor environments are increasingly recognized as notable reservoirs and exposure pathways for airborne microplastics (AMPs). This narrative review shows the outcomes from 57 observational studies published between 2017 and 2025, focusing on the occurrence, abundance, and characteristics of MPs in residential and collective indoor spaces. Methodological variability strongly affects the comparability of results. In sampling, 56 % of studies used active air collection, 37 % passive techniques, and 5 % combined strategies. Different pretreatment and analytical approaches were employed, including microscopy, µ-FTIR, µ-Raman, and Py-GC–MS. Reported concentrations range from 0.5 to 14,088 MPs/m³ in residential settings and from 2 to 8305 MPs/m³ in collective environments, exceeding outdoor control levels (mean ∼260 MPs/m³) by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude. Temporal and spatial variability is a key factor influencing concentrations, along with synthetic textiles, limited ventilation, finishing materials, the number of occupants, and seasonal effects. Fibers dominate in most indoor spaces, with polyester, polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon as the most frequently identified polymers. The human exposure assessment suggests AMP intake ranging from hundreds to several thousand particles per day, with children potentially assuming higher doses per body weight. However, variability in dose metrics limits comparability across studies. Overall, the findings underscore indoor air as a critical but underexplored exposure pathway, with significant knowledge gaps regarding methodologies and toxicological implications. This review outlines unmet needs and proposes a roadmap to move towards harmonized protocols integrating toxicological assays as priorities to strengthen risk assessment and inform mitigation strategies for AMPs in indoor environments. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
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  Data: <i>Copyright of Building & Environment is the property of Pergamon Press - An Imprint of Elsevier Science and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=8gh&AN=193092810
RecordInfo BibRecord:
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      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114567
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      – Code: eng
        Text: English
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      – SubjectFull: Built environment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Polymers
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Environmental exposure
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Microplastics
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sampling methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Toxicological interactions
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      – SubjectFull: Risk assessment
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      – SubjectFull: Experimental design
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      – TitleFull: Airborne Microplastics in indoor environments: current knowledge, methodological challenges, and future directions.
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            – D: 01
              M: 06
              Text: Jun2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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