Monitoring of airborne microplastics in Bangkok Metropolitant Region | |
| Author | Danuwas Sarathana |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-22-03 |
| Subject(s) | Microplastics--Thailand--Bangkok Plastic scrap--Environmental aspects--Thailand--Bangkok |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering in Environmental Engineering and Management |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Airborne microplastics (AMPs) have been considered as an emerging pollutant due to their ubiquitous contaminant and potential for human exposure resulting from inhalation. The comparable information of AMPs is still limited due to lacking standard methods of detection and quantification. Furthermore, the information of AMPs in Thailand is also still not available. This study aims to select suitable sampling and analytical methods to monitor and identify AMPs in Bangkok Metropolitan Region (BMR), Thailand. High-volume air sampler was used to collect total airborne microplastics (TAMPs) while the dichotomous air sample was used to collect airborne microplastics which have aerodynamic diameter of equal to or less than 2.5 μm (AMP2.5) in five different locations in BMR. These locations include Asian Institute of Technology (AIT), Ramkhamhaeng University’s roadside (RU Road), Ramkhamhaeng University’s park (RU Park), Khlong Sam’s garbage dumpsite (Dump Site), and Bangpoo industrial estate (Bangpoo). For the microplastic identification methods, this study explored three combination methods which were wet peroxide oxidation (WPO), density separation with sodium chloride (NaCl), and Nile Red staining method. Consequently, the Nile Red staining method with fluorescence microscope was selected as the most suitable analytical method to detect AMPs in this study. The FTIR spectrometer was used to characterize the polymer types of AMPs. The results showed that TAMPs number concentration was averaged as 333.42 ± 142.99 n/m3 and ranged from 201.72 to 581.90 n/m3 . The highest number concentration was detected at the Dump Site (581.90 ± 28.39 n/m3 ). The average number concentration of AMP2.5 was 97.22 ± 74.73 n/m3 ranging from 14.67 to 188.58 n/m3 . The number concentration pattern of AMP2.5 was similar to TAMPs with the highest number concentration at the Dump Site (188.58 ± 53.15 n/m3 ) and the lowest in AIT (14.67 ± 4.36 n/m3 ). Fragments were constituted the majority (97.22%) of TAMPs while only 2.78% was accounted for fibers. The small size of TAMPs (< 100 μm) was the dominant size range accounting for approximately 98%. Polyethylene (PE) in the fragments and cellophane in fibers were the major types which were available in all locations. There was insignificant correlation between AMPs and suspended particulate matters (TSP and PM2.5) in this study. |
| Year | 2022 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Ekbordin Winijkul |
| Examination Committee(s) | Visvanathan, Chettiyappan;Supat Wangwongwatana |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Loom Nam Khong Pijai (Greater Mekong Subregion) Scholarships |
| Degree | Thesis (M. Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2022 |