Microplastic Pollution in The Atmosphere: Current Situation and Proposed Solutions

Abstract

     The purpose of the study is to provide a critical understanding of microplastic pollution in the air environment and its health risks. The methods include synthesis, analysis, and literature review from the international databases Web of Science and Scopus. Results showed that microplastic pollution in the atmosphere is a crucial issue globally. Plastics can exist as small-sized particles (< 5 mm) in the air and disperse to remote regions through wind and other atmospheric processes. This situation harms the environment and human health. The causes of microplastic pollution include large-scale plastic production and consumption, uncontrolled plastic waste disposal, transportation processes, phenomena like plastic rain, and other weather factors. The study also proposed solutions to solve the problem of microplastic pollution in the air, including applying policy - management, technical - financial, education - communication solutions such as raising public awareness, reducing the use of plastic, recycling and treating plastic waste, promoting and using products that are friendly to nature and the environment.