Preliminary Investigation of Atmospheric Deposition of Microplastics in a Coastal Suburban Area

Authors

  • Wong Ru Yee Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA.
  • Sabiqah Tuan Anuar Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA. , Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA.
  • Ku Mohd Kalkausar Ku Yusof Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA. , Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA.
  • Noorlin Mohamad Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA. , Microplastic Research Interest Group (MRIG), Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, MALAYSIA.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/mjs.vol45no3.4

Keywords:

microplastic, atmospheric deposition, shape, surface morphology, coastal

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) are environmental contaminants found in various environmental matrices. The small size and light in weight make them highly mobile and easily transported through the atmosphere by wind before settling through deposition. This study presents a preliminary investigation into the abundance and physical characteristics of microplastic in atmospheric deposition samples from a coastal suburban area. Passive sampling method was applied to collect samples of atmospheric deposition from November 2021 to January 2022. The findings revealed microplastic contamination in all deposition samples, with an average abundance of 126.17±90.9 MP/m2/d and ranged between 18.32 and 372.41 MP/m2/d. The highest abundance was observed in December 2021 (262.52±123.27 MP/m2/d), followed by November 2021 (215.71±90.08 MP/m2/d) and January 2022 (152.63±53.74 MP/m2/d). Transparent fibres were the most common microplastic shape. Surface morphology analysis using scanning electron microscopy revealed evidence of weathering, with the signs of flakes, adhering particles, cracks and fractures on the microplastics surface. These findings provide fundamental insights on the abundance, physical characteristics and morphology of airborne microplastics, emphasizing the need for further studies to understand their behaviour, particularly in coastal environment.

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Published

30-09-2026

Issue

Vol. 45 No. 3 (2026)

Section

Original Articles

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