Py-GC–MS Reveals Microplastics in Playgrounds

Spending time on playgrounds might expose children to microplastics (MPs), and how much they're exposed to could depend on the makeup of the playground’s surface. Researchers at the Division of Environmental Science and Ecological Engineering at Korea University (Seoul, South Korea) have reportedly provided the first comprehensive assessment of 5-1000 µm MP contamination and associated children's exposure in urban rubber and sand playgrounds across Korea, with measurement of of 5-20 µm MPs conducted through the use of by pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC–MS). A paper based on their work was published in the journal Environment International.¹

Where Do Microplastics Found on Playgrounds Come From?

Playground surfaces, usually made of either poured rubber or sand,^2,3 tend to build up microplastics from a bunch of different sources over time. Things like sun exposure and general weathering, along with everyday wear and tear from kids running around, sliding, and playing, can gradually break down both the playground surfaces themselves and the plastic equipment on them (like slides, playhouses, and toys). Over time, this causes the materials to fade, crack, weaken, and eventually break apart into tiny plastic fragments.^4,5As a result, rubber playground surfaces shed tiny rubber particles as they wear down, while plastic play structures shed tiny plastic fragments made of whatever material they're built from, such as like polyethylene, a common plastic type.³In sand playgrounds, tiny plastic particles can also come from plastic toys, play equipment, and even children’s clothing rubbing against the sand and gradually wearing down.^6,7 In addition, wind and rain can carry microplastics in from the surrounding environment and deposit them onto playgrounds.^8.9

“As a result,” write the authors of the paper,¹ “MPs accumulate on playground surfaces over time, and children’s close contact with these surfaces, together with their playing activities (jumping, digging, etc.) and exposure behaviors, can lead to increased MP exposure.”

How Much Microplastic Contamination Is Found on Playground Surfaces?

For this study, researchers measured two size ranges of microplastic particles using two different lab techniques. For the larger particles (MPs of 20-1000 µm, which were quantified by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy [FTIR]), they found roughly similar average amounts in both rubber and sand playgrounds. For the smaller, more detailed size range (measured, as previously mentioned, with Py-GC–MS), they found slightly higher average levels in rubber playgrounds compared to sand ones. The most common types of plastic detected were the same materials commonly used in packaging and plastic bottles, and most particles fell into a relatively small size range.¹

How Does the Contamination Compare to Other Environments?

Overall, the amount of microplastics found on these playgrounds was like what is typically found in road dust, and notably higher than what is found in beach sand. When researchers estimated how much of these particles a child might take in through breathing and accidental swallowing while playing, they found the numbers were roughly comparable between rubber and sand playgrounds, with sand playgrounds coming out slightly higher. Interestingly, older sand playgrounds tended to have higher microplastic levels the longer they'd been in use, and the data suggested a bit of a tipping point around the 16-year mark, after which playgrounds tended to show noticeably higher average microplastic levels.¹

“These findings,” write the authors of the paper,¹ “highlight playgrounds as potential outdoor exposure pathways for children and emphasize the need for greater attention to urban older sand playgrounds in future research and environmental management strategies.”

References

1. Lee, S.; Pham, T. D.; Kwon, J. H. Microplastic Contamination, Characteristics, and Children's Exposure in Urban Sand and Poured-Rubber Playgrounds in Korea. Environ Int 2026, 214, 110421. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2026.110421
2. Almansour, K. S.; Arisco, N. J.; Woo, M. K. et al. Playground Lead Levels in Rubber, Soil, Sand, and Mulch Surfaces in Boston. PLoS One 2019, 14, e0216156. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216156
3. D.T. Pham, D. T.; A. Tarafdar, A.; P.-G. Kim, P.-G. et al. Profiling and Assessing Soil-Air Exchange of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Playground Dust and Soil Using ex situ Equilibrium Passive Sampling. Chemosphere 2022, 291, 133083. DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133083
4. Duan, J.; Bolan, N.; Li, Y. et al. Weathering of Microplastics and Interaction with Other Coexisting Constituents in Terrestrial and Aquatic Environments. Water Res 2021, 196, 117011. DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117011
5. Ren, Z.;  Gui, X.; Xu, X. et al. Microplastics in the Soil-Groundwater Environment: Aging, Migration, and Co-Transport of Contaminants – A Critical Review. J Hazard Mater 2021, 419, 126455. DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126455
6. Sipe, J. M.; Bossa, N.; Berger, W. et al. From Bottle to Microplastics: Can We Estimate How Our Plastic Products Are Breaking Down? Sci Total Environ 2022, 814, 152460. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152460
7. Ziemann, S.; Alberg, C. H.; Yadav, H. et al. Novel Release Mechanism of Microplastics and Nanoplastics by Environmentally Relevant Sand Abrasion. Environ Sci Technol 2025, 59, 20684-20694. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5c08318
8. Wright, S. L.; Ulke, J.; Font, A. et al. Atmospheric Microplastic Deposition in an Urban Environment and an Evaluation of Transport. Environ Int 2020, 136, 105411. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2019.105411
9. Ziajahromi, S.; Lu, H.-C.; Drapper, D. et al. Microplastics and Tire Wear Particles in Urban Stormwater: Abundance, Characteristics, and Potential Mitigation strategies. Environ Sci Technol 2023, 57, 12829-12837. DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c03949