Microplastic emissions may be up to 10,000 times lower than previously estimated

A University of Vienna study that combined 2,782 measurements from 283 sites (2014–2024) finds global airborne microplastic emissions are 100–10,000 times lower than earlier estimates and estimates about 610 quadrillion particles per year from land and 26 quadrillion from oceans.

Researchers at the University of Vienna published a paper in Nature reporting lower global airborne microplastic emissions than earlier estimates. They compiled 2,782 atmospheric measurements from 283 locations collected between 2014 and 2024. Using these measurements with existing models, the team scaled global emissions and found totals about 100 to 10,000 times lower than previous estimates. The study also reports land sources emit roughly 20 times more particles to the air than the oceans. Key findings: - The dataset included 2,782 measurements from 283 global locations collected between 2014 and 2024. - Average atmospheric concentrations were estimated at 0.08 particles per cubic metre over land and 0.003 per cubic metre over sea. - Scaled emissions estimate: about 610 quadrillion particles per year from land and about 26 quadrillion from oceans, yielding global totals 100–10,000 times lower than earlier reports. - Land sources cited include tyre and brake wear and breakdown of larger plastics, and are estimated to contribute roughly 20 times more airborne particles than sea spray. - The authors report large regional variability and note many measurements lack crucial information on particle size, shape and distribution, which affects assessments of health impacts. Summary: The revised estimate substantially reduces prior global emission figures but leaves important uncertainties about particle size, composition and regional variation. The authors say the expanded measurement set improves global coverage but still has large margins of error and missing size-distribution data. They also report that emissions are expected to increase in the future and that safe exposure levels for health remain unknown.