New Finnish consortium focuses on nano- and microplastics in the atmosphere
Photo: Adobe Stock.Nano- and microplastics have been shown to be nearly omnipresent from water bodies, soil, and glaciers to aquatic and terrestrial biota, but micro- and especially nanoplastics in the air have been almost completely ignored.
In the study, researchers will identify nano- and microplastic particles in the air and find out major sources and distribution of plastic particles in the urban area. In addition, they aim to define how significant problem airborne nanoplastics are currently in terms of air quality.
The project lasts four years, starting at the beginning of September.
The consortium has strong expertise in aerosol particles and microplastics. The researchers at the Finnish Meteorological Institute have years of experience in collecting atmospheric particles and analyzing their chemical composition, while the Finnish Environment Institute has already studied microplastics from various matrices, for example inland and marine waters and soil, for a decade.
Further information:
Senior researcher Sanna Saarikoski, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Sanna.Saarikoski@fmi.fi
Leading researcher Markus Sillanpää, Finnish Environment Institute, Markus.Sillanpaa@syke.fi