Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment

Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi; Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi; Hossein Arfaeinia; Zahra Soltanianzadeh; Mahdi Ghorbanian

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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| Peer-Reviewed

Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment

Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi^*

, Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi

, Hossein Arfaeinia

, Zahra Soltanianzadeh

, Mahdi Ghorbanian

Published in American Journal of Medical Science and Technology (Volume 2, Issue 3)

Received: 8 December 2025 Accepted: 24 February 2026 Published: 3 July 2026

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Abstract

Microplastics are one of the dominant environmental pollutants that have been found in various environments due to the widespread use of plastic products. The present study was designed and conducted with the aim of investigating the abundance of microplastics in settled dust in healthcare wards with a health risk assessment approach. In this study, 30 settled dust samples from different healthcare wards were examined. The samples were prepared, digested, and extracted in the laboratory. Optical microscopy was used to identify and determine the physical properties of microplastics, and SEM-EDX was used to determine their surface morphology and chemical composition. The polymer composition of microplastic particles was also determined using a Raman spectrometer. The results of this study showed that the abundance of microplastics in settled dust was 4358 pieces per 10 grams, with the highest abundance at 636 sampling stations and the lowest contribution of 18 sampling stations. The most common color, shape, and polymer type of microplastics were white (37%), fiber (65%), and polyvinyl chloride (30%), respectively, and the predominant size of microplastic particles in the sample was between 10 and 1000 μm (55%). The results of this study have a direct relationship with the type of equipment and devices used in the wards, type of ventilation, cleaning methods, and hygiene practices. This study provides new insights into microplastic contamination in assessing the risk associated with deposited dust in healthcare units. Furthermore, the findings are useful for controlling exposure and improving microplastic contamination reduction steps in health management in healthcare facilities.

Published in	American Journal of Medical Science and Technology (Volume 2, Issue 3)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
Page(s)	76-88
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2026. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Health Risk Assessment, Monte Carlo Simulation, Microplastics, Dust

References

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APA Style

Meybodi, A. E., Mehrizi, E. A., Arfaeinia, H., Soltanianzadeh, Z., Ghorbanian, M. (2026). Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment. American Journal of Medical Science and Technology, 2(3), 76-88. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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ACS Style

Meybodi, A. E.; Mehrizi, E. A.; Arfaeinia, H.; Soltanianzadeh, Z.; Ghorbanian, M. Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment. Am. J. Med. Sci. Technol. 2026, 2(3), 76-88. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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AMA Style

Meybodi AE, Mehrizi EA, Arfaeinia H, Soltanianzadeh Z, Ghorbanian M. Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment. Am J Med Sci Technol. 2026;2(3):76-88. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11,
  author = {Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi and Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi and Hossein Arfaeinia and Zahra Soltanianzadeh and Mahdi Ghorbanian},
  title = {Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment},
  journal = {American Journal of Medical Science and Technology},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {76-88},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmst.20260203.11},
  abstract = {Microplastics are one of the dominant environmental pollutants that have been found in various environments due to the widespread use of plastic products. The present study was designed and conducted with the aim of investigating the abundance of microplastics in settled dust in healthcare wards with a health risk assessment approach. In this study, 30 settled dust samples from different healthcare wards were examined. The samples were prepared, digested, and extracted in the laboratory. Optical microscopy was used to identify and determine the physical properties of microplastics, and SEM-EDX was used to determine their surface morphology and chemical composition. The polymer composition of microplastic particles was also determined using a Raman spectrometer. The results of this study showed that the abundance of microplastics in settled dust was 4358 pieces per 10 grams, with the highest abundance at 636 sampling stations and the lowest contribution of 18 sampling stations. The most common color, shape, and polymer type of microplastics were white (37%), fiber (65%), and polyvinyl chloride (30%), respectively, and the predominant size of microplastic particles in the sample was between 10 and 1000 μm (55%). The results of this study have a direct relationship with the type of equipment and devices used in the wards, type of ventilation, cleaning methods, and hygiene practices. This study provides new insights into microplastic contamination in assessing the risk associated with deposited dust in healthcare units. Furthermore, the findings are useful for controlling exposure and improving microplastic contamination reduction steps in health management in healthcare facilities.},
 year = {2026}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment
AU  - Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi
AU  - Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi
AU  - Hossein Arfaeinia
AU  - Zahra Soltanianzadeh
AU  - Mahdi Ghorbanian
Y1  - 2026/07/03
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
T2  - American Journal of Medical Science and Technology
JF  - American Journal of Medical Science and Technology
JO  - American Journal of Medical Science and Technology
SP  - 76
EP  - 88
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 3071-0669
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
AB  - Microplastics are one of the dominant environmental pollutants that have been found in various environments due to the widespread use of plastic products. The present study was designed and conducted with the aim of investigating the abundance of microplastics in settled dust in healthcare wards with a health risk assessment approach. In this study, 30 settled dust samples from different healthcare wards were examined. The samples were prepared, digested, and extracted in the laboratory. Optical microscopy was used to identify and determine the physical properties of microplastics, and SEM-EDX was used to determine their surface morphology and chemical composition. The polymer composition of microplastic particles was also determined using a Raman spectrometer. The results of this study showed that the abundance of microplastics in settled dust was 4358 pieces per 10 grams, with the highest abundance at 636 sampling stations and the lowest contribution of 18 sampling stations. The most common color, shape, and polymer type of microplastics were white (37%), fiber (65%), and polyvinyl chloride (30%), respectively, and the predominant size of microplastic particles in the sample was between 10 and 1000 μm (55%). The results of this study have a direct relationship with the type of equipment and devices used in the wards, type of ventilation, cleaning methods, and hygiene practices. This study provides new insights into microplastic contamination in assessing the risk associated with deposited dust in healthcare units. Furthermore, the findings are useful for controlling exposure and improving microplastic contamination reduction steps in health management in healthcare facilities.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

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Author Information

Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi

Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

Contact Email

http://orcid.org/0009-0001-8739-4430
Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi

Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

http://orcid.org/0000-0003-2433-0672
Hossein Arfaeinia

Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Busheher University of Medical Sciences, Busheher, Iran

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1186-2496
Zahra Soltanianzadeh

Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran

http://orcid.org/0000-0002-7969-8493
Mahdi Ghorbanian

Department of Environmental Health Engineering, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran

http://orcid.org/0000-0001-9992-1560

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APA Style

Meybodi, A. E., Mehrizi, E. A., Arfaeinia, H., Soltanianzadeh, Z., Ghorbanian, M. (2026). Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment. American Journal of Medical Science and Technology, 2(3), 76-88. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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ACS Style

Meybodi, A. E.; Mehrizi, E. A.; Arfaeinia, H.; Soltanianzadeh, Z.; Ghorbanian, M. Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment. Am. J. Med. Sci. Technol. 2026, 2(3), 76-88. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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AMA Style

Meybodi AE, Mehrizi EA, Arfaeinia H, Soltanianzadeh Z, Ghorbanian M. Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment. Am J Med Sci Technol. 2026;2(3):76-88. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11,
  author = {Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi and Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi and Hossein Arfaeinia and Zahra Soltanianzadeh and Mahdi Ghorbanian},
  title = {Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment},
  journal = {American Journal of Medical Science and Technology},
  volume = {2},
  number = {3},
  pages = {76-88},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmst.20260203.11},
  abstract = {Microplastics are one of the dominant environmental pollutants that have been found in various environments due to the widespread use of plastic products. The present study was designed and conducted with the aim of investigating the abundance of microplastics in settled dust in healthcare wards with a health risk assessment approach. In this study, 30 settled dust samples from different healthcare wards were examined. The samples were prepared, digested, and extracted in the laboratory. Optical microscopy was used to identify and determine the physical properties of microplastics, and SEM-EDX was used to determine their surface morphology and chemical composition. The polymer composition of microplastic particles was also determined using a Raman spectrometer. The results of this study showed that the abundance of microplastics in settled dust was 4358 pieces per 10 grams, with the highest abundance at 636 sampling stations and the lowest contribution of 18 sampling stations. The most common color, shape, and polymer type of microplastics were white (37%), fiber (65%), and polyvinyl chloride (30%), respectively, and the predominant size of microplastic particles in the sample was between 10 and 1000 μm (55%). The results of this study have a direct relationship with the type of equipment and devices used in the wards, type of ventilation, cleaning methods, and hygiene practices. This study provides new insights into microplastic contamination in assessing the risk associated with deposited dust in healthcare units. Furthermore, the findings are useful for controlling exposure and improving microplastic contamination reduction steps in health management in healthcare facilities.},
 year = {2026}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Microplastics in Indoor Dust Collected from Healthcare Units: Occurrence and Exposure Assessment
AU  - Azra Ebrahimpour Meybodi
AU  - Ehsan Abouee Mehrizi
AU  - Hossein Arfaeinia
AU  - Zahra Soltanianzadeh
AU  - Mahdi Ghorbanian
Y1  - 2026/07/03
PY  - 2026
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
T2  - American Journal of Medical Science and Technology
JF  - American Journal of Medical Science and Technology
JO  - American Journal of Medical Science and Technology
SP  - 76
EP  - 88
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 3071-0669
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmst.20260203.11
AB  - Microplastics are one of the dominant environmental pollutants that have been found in various environments due to the widespread use of plastic products. The present study was designed and conducted with the aim of investigating the abundance of microplastics in settled dust in healthcare wards with a health risk assessment approach. In this study, 30 settled dust samples from different healthcare wards were examined. The samples were prepared, digested, and extracted in the laboratory. Optical microscopy was used to identify and determine the physical properties of microplastics, and SEM-EDX was used to determine their surface morphology and chemical composition. The polymer composition of microplastic particles was also determined using a Raman spectrometer. The results of this study showed that the abundance of microplastics in settled dust was 4358 pieces per 10 grams, with the highest abundance at 636 sampling stations and the lowest contribution of 18 sampling stations. The most common color, shape, and polymer type of microplastics were white (37%), fiber (65%), and polyvinyl chloride (30%), respectively, and the predominant size of microplastic particles in the sample was between 10 and 1000 μm (55%). The results of this study have a direct relationship with the type of equipment and devices used in the wards, type of ventilation, cleaning methods, and hygiene practices. This study provides new insights into microplastic contamination in assessing the risk associated with deposited dust in healthcare units. Furthermore, the findings are useful for controlling exposure and improving microplastic contamination reduction steps in health management in healthcare facilities.
VL  - 2
IS  - 3
ER  -

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