ABSTRACT This research investigates the presence and concentrations of microplastics and potentially toxic elements in dust from homes in urban and rural environments, revealing their hidden threats to human health and indoor air quality. Stereomicroscopic analysis showed that the fiber was dominant, and the nonfiber was less abundant. The average number of fibers and nonfibers in house dust samples in the city center was 61 ± 39 and 16 ± 8 per milligram, having an average size of 1206 ± 276 µm. While the average fibers and nonfibers count in house dust samples in rural areas was 57 ± 26 and 9 ± 3 per milligram, with an average size of microplastics in house dust samples in rural areas of 1068 ± 130 µm. The identified microplastics revealed different colours, mainly bright ones. The EDX analysis of microplastics revealed the existence of different elements (Ne, Na, C, S, Cl, O, Ca, Zn, Al, and Si). Seven potentially toxic elements (Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Co) and Zn had the highest concentrations in all houses in the city center (1247.948 ± 907.904 mg/kg) and in rural areas (1164.394 ± 181.149 mg/kg). Average daily inhalation dose indices were calculated to assess the harmfulness of potentially toxic elements to human health via inhalation. Cd showed the lowest inhalation metal concentration, whereas Zn showed the highest. The findings show no significant differences in microplastics and potentially toxic elements' concentrations between urban and rural areas. The results emphasise the urgent need for better air quality management and pollution control strategies in residential settings.
Bhat et al. (Tue,) studied this question.