Authors
Chongchong Zhang, Yiming Qin, Lei Li, Eleonora Aruffo, Shaoyong Li, Xuan Li, Ning Zhang, Yun Wu, Haiwei Li, Yunjiang Zhang, Yuan Dai, Ming Wang, Xinlei Ge, Ke Li, Wei Du, Chunlei Cheng, Mei Li, Mindong Chen, Junfeng Wang
Published in
Environmental science & technology. Sep 29, 2025. Epub Sep 29, 2025.
Abstract
Atmospheric micro-nanoplastics (MNPs) serve as key vectors for the global dispersion of plastic pollutants and act as reactive interfaces for atmospheric species, modifying their physicochemical properties and influencing environmental transport dynamics. However, existing methods lack the temporal resolution and specificity to characterize MNP mixing states and pollutant interactions in real time. To address this gap, we developed an innovative approach employing bioaerosol single-particle mass spectrometry (Bio-SPAMS) for simultaneous detection of polystyrene MNPs (PS MNPs; 0.3-2 μm) and their chemical associations with co-pollutants. Three diagnostic tracer ions, 91[C7H7+], 104[C8H8+], and 115[C9H7+], were identified as unambiguous markers of PS MNPs, enhancing their discrimination from ambient aerosols. Field measurements in a Chinese megacity revealed that PS MNPs constitute 1.04% of total aerosols (n = 51 045 particles), predominantly within the 0.3-0.8 μm size range. Approximately 76.4% of PS MNPs exhibited co-detection of nitrate and sulfate signatures, and in particles with PS characteristics, the relative peak areas of nitrate and sulfate are 14.30 and 4.06%, respectively, demonstrating active atmospheric aging via secondary pollutant uptake. This work established a new methodology for real-time MNP tracking in atmospheric matrices, providing critical insights into their lifecycle and risks.
PMID:
41021747
Bibliographic data and abstract were imported from PubMed on 30 Sep 2025.
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