We inhale up to 70,000 plastic particles each year. This is according to a recent analysis published in Il Sole 24 Ore, which reports data from a study conducted by the journal Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety. It is an alarming number, prompting us to reflect on an invisible and underestimated danger: the microplastics in the air we breathe every day, even in work environments.
Not only seas and oceans, then, are under the threat of plastic pollution, as WWF rightly pointed out on World Environment Day 2025. According to WWF's report, plastic accounts for 80 percent of the waste dispersed in the sea and on coasts, polluting water, soil and wildlife until it enters the food chain.
Equally alarming, the summary published by Il Sole 24 Ore points out that even the air we breathe spreads microplastics and nanoplastics, with possible devastating effects on public health.
But what exactly are these particles? And how can we defend ourselves?
What are airborne microplastics and why they are scary
Microplastics are plastic fragments less than 5 millimeters in size. Nanoplastics, even more insidious, can measure a few microns. These particles are formed through the degradation of plastic objects and materials found everywhere: packaging, synthetic fabrics, paints, tires, work tools and even electronic equipment.
A significant portion of these microplastics not only end up in the seas, but remain suspended in the air, ready to be inhaled. According to scientists, they can reach the lungs, enter the bloodstream and even cross biological barriers such as the placental barrier, with potential harmful effects on various organs and physiological functions.
Work environments and air quality: an underestimated link
When people talk about microplastics, they rarely refer to work environments. Yet this is where the concentration of airborne pollutants can be particularly high.
In settings such as machine shops, chemical factories, paint shops, plastic molding plants or metal carpentries, the sources of particles are many: hot machining, mechanical abrasion, cutting, sanding, use of synthetic materials. Added to all this are fine dusts, vapors, fumes and processing residues that, without adequate extraction and filtration, remain suspended in the air.
The result? Daily and prolonged exposure to potentially harmful substances, often invisible to the human eye, that compromise respiratory health and can generate inflammation, oxidative stress, endocrine disruption and more.
The Coral answer: filtration and air health technologies
For more than 60 years, Coral has been developing solutions for air purification in industrial environments. Our systems are designed precisely to eliminate contaminant particles at the source, including the finest and lightest, such as microplastics.
Our solutions include:
- Localized vacuum systems, ideal for capturing dust and micro-fragments directly in the emission zone;
- HEPA and ULPA absolute filters, capable of retaining particles down to 0.1 micron;
- Mobile and centralized purifiers, perfect for enclosed environments or with multiple locations;
- Tailor-made plants for the plastics, mechanical, chemical, pharmaceutical and food industries, which can be integrated with air quality monitoring systems.
The goal is always the same: to improve air quality in workplaces while protecting people's health and complying with environmental regulations.
Why take action now: workers' health and future regulations
The European Commission,WHO and numerous national bodies are intensifying monitoring of indoor emissions and considering the introduction of stricter limits on airborne particles, including microplastics. Against this backdrop, companies that invest in advanced exhaust systems are not only protecting their workers, but also preparing for increasingly stringent regulations.
Not to mention that a healthy environment increases productivity, reduces sick leave and improves corporate image to customers and stakeholders.
The problem of microplastics in the air does not only affect the environment or marine life; it affects us closely, every day, even in the workplace. The good news is that there are effective, practical solutions that are already available.
Coral is at the side of companies to design and install customized vacuum and filtration systems capable of meeting the challenges of the present and the future.
Sources and insights:
- The Sun 24 Hours: Plastic in the air, a threat to our health - 70,000 particles inhaled each year
- Environmental Science & Technology (ACS Publications)
- European Environment Agency (EEA) - Microplastics in the environment.
- WHO - Guidelines on indoor air quality