Articles | Volume 26, issue 16
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11803-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-26-11803-2026
© Author(s) 2026. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
20 Aug 2026
Research article |
| 20 Aug 2026
| 20 Aug 2026
Wet and dry atmospheric deposition of microplastics at urban, suburban, rural and mountainous sites in Switzerland
Narain M. Ashta
Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Duebendorf, 8600, Switzerland
Guillaume Crosset-Perrotin
Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, 8600, Switzerland
Angélique Moraz
Agroscope, Zurich, 8046, Switzerland
Matthias Philipp
Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, 8600, Switzerland
Thomas D. Bucheli
Agroscope, Zurich, 8046, Switzerland
Ralf Kaegi
Eawag – Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology, Duebendorf, 8600, Switzerland
Christoph Hueglin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Empa – Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Duebendorf, 8600, Switzerland
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Short summary
Microplastics are environmental contaminants of concern that are also present in air. Using an infrared-based device, we measured the amount of microplastics deposited from air to different parts of Switzerland over a one-year period. We found microplastics everywhere, with levels in the city being more than twice as high as those in suburban, rural and mountainous places. We also found that air is an important transporter of microplastics that contaminates agricultural land and water bodies.
Microplastics are environmental contaminants of concern that are also present in air. Using an...
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