Plastic Vectors in the Air

微塑料（小于5毫米的塑料）污染已经在世界各地的每个主要自然生态系统和建筑环境中被检测到，包括比利牛斯山脉，北极和马里亚纳海沟等偏远地区。虽然世界海洋中的塑料污染已经得到了大量的宣传和关注，但空气中微塑料的来源、汇和影响，特别是来自城市或工业区的微塑料，直到最近才得到考虑（图1）。特别是，了解塑料如何作为病原体的载体，帮助抗微生物基因转移以及转移有毒微量元素和人类，是需要进一步工作的领域。例如，最近的研究表明，空气中的微塑料可以作为SARS-CoV-2的载体。该奖学金可以根据成功申请人的兴趣，背景和技能进行定制。然而，预计该项目将在不同环境中对空气中的微塑料进行检测和表征，以确定大气中塑料负荷的主要贡献者。这对探索不同废物管理实践对空气中塑料负荷的贡献以及进一步推动该项目特别感兴趣。

Microplastic (plastics<5 mm) pollution has been detected every major natural ecosystem and built environment across the world, this includes remote regions such as the Pyrenees, the Arctic and the Mariana trench. Whilst plastic pollution in the world's oceans has received a tremendous amount of publicity and attention, the sources, sinks and impacts of airborne microplastics, particularly those from urban or industrial areas, has only recently been considered (figure 1). In particular, understanding how plastic may act as vector for pathogenic organisms, aid anti-microbial gene transference and transfer toxic trace elements and humans, are areas where further work is needed. For example, it was recently shown that airborne microplastics can act as SARS-CoV-2 vectors.This studentship can be tailored to the interests, background and skills set of the successful applicant. It is envisaged however that the project would undertake the detection and characterisation of airborne microplastics in different environments to determine major contributors to plastic load in the atmosphere. This is particular interest in exploring the contribution of different waste management practices to airborne plastic load and further the project.