The Busan Research Institute of Public Health and Environment has confirmed that micro-plastic particles are present in the air we breathe.

Plastic breaks apart into tiny fragments in the rivers and oceans. These microplastics build up in the bodies of marine animals. It’s also been confirmed that microplastics are present in the air we breathe.

The Busan Research Institute of Public Health and Environment analyzed the air at 18 indoor and outdoor locations and found 0.4 average microplastics per cubic square meter indoors and 0.1 outdoors. The microplastic fragments found indoors were smaller.

Choi Seong-hwa, Busan Research Institute of Public Health and Environment, said that they suspect the smaller the particles are, the more harmful they would be. But microplastics with the thickness of a human hair are found more indoors than outdoors.

Most of the microplastics were polyethylene fragments. The plastic used in toys, packaging materials, and synthetic fibers was the main source of indoor microplastics while building materials, automobiles, and beverage containers largely accounted for outdoor microplastics.

In July 2021, a study conducted in Seoul found microplastics of ten different substances in the air.

“It differs by location, but the key fact is that plastics exist. It’s very important to find out how much microplastics exist where,” said Prof. Jeong Su-jong of Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Seoul National University.

Researchers highlighted that more studies are urgently needed on microplastics’ effects on the human body when inhaled and air quality analysis at children’s play facilities with a large number of plastic toys.

by KBS