Atmospheric microplastics emission from municipal solid waste incineration power plant: Field evidence and characterizations

Microplastics have been discovered in the solid residuals from municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration plant, posing potential risks to the surrounding environments. However, there exists a lack of evidence on the presence and characterizations of atmospheric microplastic emission from MSW incineration, which is considered more hazardous due to size reduction. Hence, we collected particles from flue gas emitted by a circulating fluidized bed incinerator, to investigate the morphology, chemical structure, and emission abundance of microplastics. Further, particles from different stream locations were collected to identify the effects of air pollution control devices on the microplastic abundance and chemical structures. Results indicate the predominant length of the microplastics in the flue gas ranged from 10 to 40 μm at different locations. The major polymer types of microplastics were polyvinyl chloride and polyacrylamide, resulting from inherent Cl elements and selective non-catalytic reduction in MSW, respectively. Based on the field data, the atmospheric microplastic emission was estimated at 2.1 × 1012 pieces/yr, turned out to be a pivotal contributor to the atmospheric microplastics. Notably, the unique microplastic chemical properties pose a higher threat to human health than conventional plastics. Our work prioritizes an alternative source of microplastic emissions and calls for further research endeavors.