CEE Seminar - The Plastic We Breathe

Since the term "microscopic plastic" or "microplastics" first appeared in the scientific literature two decades ago, these tiny plastic particles have been detected in virtually every environmental compartment, as well as in various human and animal organs. The discovery of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) deposited in remote regions around the world and even in human lungs highlights atmospheric plastics as an emerging air pollution component.
In this seminar, I will discuss our approach to understanding and quantifying the emissions, transport, and fate of MNPs in the atmosphere. I will present findings from what we believe to be the first study of its kind in the Eastern United States, focusing specifically on atmospheric MNP deposition in the Southwestern Appalachian region. I will then discuss potential sources of MNPs in the atmosphere, emphasizing ocean spray as one of the major mechanisms that release MNPs into the air. We will explore the multi-physics and multi-scale processes involved in MNP emissions from the ocean, examining how factors like the bubbles produced by breaking ocean waves, along with the physical and chemical properties of plastic particles-such as size, polymer type, and surface characteristics-affect the amount and mechanism of MNP emission from ocean to atmosphere. Finally, I will conclude with thoughts on the future of this research area in the context of reducing global plastic pollution-a highly challenging yet unavoidable task for the generations to come.