Pollution

Pollution

Analysis of the Abundance, Types, and Shapes of Microplastics in Ambient Air Associated with Transportation Activities Using Passive Sampling in Pekanbaru City

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors
Environmental Engineering Department, Riau University, 28293, Pekanbaru, Indonesia
Abstract
Rapid urbanization and increasing transportation intensity have raised concerns regarding airborne microplastic pollution, particularly through road dust resuspension. Owing to their low density and aerodynamic properties, microplastic particles can become airborne and contribute to inhalation exposure. This study investigated the abundance, morphology, and polymer composition of airborne microplastics associated with transportation activities in Pekanbaru City, Indonesia. Sampling was conducted at sites representing arterial, collector, and local roads, in addition to a control location without transportation activity. Traffic volume was quantified through traffic counting, while airborne microplastics were collected using passive sampling over a 28-day period with weekly analysis. Polymer identification was performed using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The results of this study indicated a clear relationship between traffic intensity and microplastic abundance in ambient air. The highest microplastic concentration was observed on arterial roads (0.251 particles/m³), followed by collector roads (0.172 particles/m³), local roads (0.119 particles/m³), and the control site (0.015 particles/m³). Pearson correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association between traffic volume and microplastic abundance (r = 0.787; R² = 0.619; p < 0.05). Fibers constituted the dominant morphology (70.05%), followed by fragments (22.84%) and films (7.12%). Identified polymers included polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), and polyamide (PA). These findings demonstrate that transportation activities are a significant source of airborne microplastics in urban environments and may contribute to inhalation exposure.
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