Plastics in the air threaten health of city dwellers

HIGH levels of microplastics in the air in cities pose a health risk to those living in them, researchers have warned.

Their study was carried out in London – but applies to cities all over the world.

The researchers measured the tiny particles on a building in central London – and admitted being surprised by their own findings.

But they said the levels were almost certainly high in other urban areas – with potential implications for our health, particularly our lungs.

The safety of microplastics has not been properly investigated but plastics in general are known to contain toxic chemicals and carry some harmful bacteria.

Lead researcher Stephanie Wright, from Kings College London said: ‘We found a high abundance of microplastics, much higher than what has previously been reported. But any city around the world is going to be somewhat similar.

‘I find it of concern – that is why I am working on it. The biggest concern is we don’t really know much at all. I want to find out if it is safe or not.’

During the research, published in the journal Environment International, microplastics falling above a nine-storey building in Central London were collected.

The scientists collected eight samples in total and within these, found 15 different types of plastic materials. Most of the microplastics were acrylic, probably emitted from clothing and others came from polystyrene and polyethylene, possibly from food packaging.

But the overall level of microplastics above that one Central London building were found to be significantly higher than those recorded in three others cities, from previous research.

They were nearly three times higher than in Hamburg, seven times higher than Paris and 20 times higher than in Dongguan in China. So far scientists have only measured the levels of microplastic in these four cities, including this latest study in London.

The Mail has repeatedly highlighted the potential dangers of microplastics as part of our Turn the Tide on Plastic Campaign. Last March our own research found the tiny particles had found their way on to shop-bought fish including fresh fillets of cod and salmon.

And in October 2018 we reported on a study by the

Medical University of Vienna which found plastic particles were making their into the gut.

Referring to this latest study in London, Steve Allen, at the EcoLab research institute near Toulouse, France said: ‘ These studies showing just how much plastic is in the air are a wake-up call. The research is a very well- done study showing incredibly high numbers of airborne microplastics.

‘Currently we have very little knowledge on what effect this airborne pollution will have on humans. But with what we do know it is pretty scary to think we are breathing it in. We need urgent research.’

Johnny Gasperi, at the Université Paris- Est, said the research suggested a widespread contamination of the air by microplastics.

Melanie Bergmann, at the Alfred Wegener Institute for Polar and Marine Research in Germany, said: ‘ We do not currently know what proportion of inhaled microplastics actually penetrates the deep lung.’

Previous Daily Mail investigations have found dangerous plastic particles have be become ‘part of the air we breathe’

It has previously been thought the risk to health was largely limited to eating fish from oceans polluted with plastic.

Experts warned at the time ingesting the particles could damage lungs, poison kidneys and interfere with hormones.

Microplastics can even travel across a mother’s placenta.