Airborne Microplastics in Asia: Dealing with the Unseen

Airborne microplastics, originating from diverse sources, are silently accumulating in ecosystems, posing a significant threat to biodiversity. This chapter explores their sources, accumulation, potential impacts on ecosystems, and the negative health effects they may have, underscoring the urgent need for preventive measures. Microplastics (MPs) in the atmosphere result from plastic fragmentation, industrial processes, and textile fiber breakdown, dispersing widely via wind. In developing countries in Asia, the presence of airborne MPs has been detected, but their risks and impacts have not been thoroughly examined. Nations with low environmental monitoring facilities and management capabilities will confront specific environmental crises and hazards due to the anticipated escalation in airborne MPs. These tiny particles enter the food web, potentially disrupting ecosystems and leading to bioaccumulation. Moreover, when inhaled, airborne MPs may cause respiratory and chronic diseases, and there are concerns regarding their ability to transport harmful chemicals, posing additional health risks. To address this emerging crisis, comprehensive research, plastic regulation, improved waste management, and air purification technologies are essential. Neglecting this issue not only threatens ecosystems but also poses a direct risk to human well-being, necessitating immediate action.