Description: In order to assess pollution with small microplastics (S-MP, 11-500 µm) in the Lower Weser and transition to the German North Sea, surface water samples were collected with the RV Otzum (ICBM, Institute for Chemistry and Biology of the Marine Environment), as well as with the RV Uthörn (AWI, Alfred-Wegener-Institute) in April 2018. Sampling was performed using a pumping system containing of a floating suction basket (mesh size: 500 µm) for pre-filtration, followed by the concentration onto a 15 µm stainless steel screen. Samples were isolated from the filter screens in the laboratory, thoroughly processed and measured via µFTIR imaging. Dominant polymer type in the S-MP sample fraction was acrylates/polyurethanes/varnish, and concentrations ranged between 2.3 × 10¹ and 9.7 × 10³ m⁻³, with maximum values in the area of the turbidity Maximum Zone of the River Weser.

Description: This data set provides quantitative mass loads of tire wear particles (TWP) and traditional microplastics (C-PE, C-PP, C-PS, C-PVC, C-PMMA, C-PET, C-PC, C-MDI-PUR) in the urban environment. A differentiation between car and truck tire wear (CTT and TTT) was presented. The C-PVC cluster might be interfered by additional anthropogenic sources, as the C-PVC indicator naphthalene is highly unspecific, accordingly the given results primarily reflect the order of magnitude. In this study, road dusts were analyzed and measured with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectronomy (Py-GC/MS). Pyrolysis was performed at 590°C in a micro-furnace pyrolizer (EGA/Py-3030D, FrontierLabs) connected to an auto-shot sampler (AS-1020E, FrontierLabs). A gas chromatograph (6890 N, Agilent) equipped with a DB-5MS column was used for separation. The mass spectrometer (MSD 5973, Agilent) operated with full-scan mode. A gas chromatograph (6890 N, Agilent) equipped with a DB-5MS column was used for separation. The mass spectrometer (MSD 5977A) operated with full-scan mode. Additional information are found in the supplementary information of the related study. Road dust samples were collected in a mid-sized German city (Oldenburg). Road dust were contaminated with traditional microplastics and tire wear particles. The here presented data are part of a study, which has been published in February 2021 (doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145667).

Description: This data set provides mass quantitative data of microplastics (MP) including tire wear particles (TWP) in northern Atlantic air. Air samples were taken with two different active air sampling devices (low- and high-volume samplers) during seven transects on a research cruise along the Norwegian coast up to Bear Island. Identification and quantification of MP was performed with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). More information about the measurement technique is found in the related paper (Goßmann et al., 2023; doi:10.1038/s41467-023-39340-5). MP was detected in all transects (max. 37.5 ng m-3). Particularly interesting was the ubiquity of the polyethylene terephthalate cluster (C-PET, max. 1.5 ng m-3). TWP was detected only twice, but in comparably high concentrations (max. 35 ng m-3). A close relationship of C-PET occurrence and possible re-emission processes from the ocean were suspected. The results for some polymer clusters had to be excluded due to sampling related interferences. The respective background is discussed in the related publication. The indicator used for identification and quantification of the polyvinyl chloride cluster (C-PVC) is rather unspecific. Therefore, C-PVC might be interfered by additional anthropogenic sources and the given C-PVC concentration only represents an order of magnitude.

Description: This data set presents microplastic (MP) mass loads including tire wear particles (TWP) in spider webs collected from bus stops in a mid-sized German city. Spider webs were used as a spatial and temporal mirror of MP contamination in urban air. The analysis was conducted with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Details concerning the measurements, quantification, and calibration are found in the related study (Goßmann et al., 2022). Spider webs were greatly contaminated with TWP, clusters of polyethylene-terephthalate (C-PET) and polyvinylchloride (C-PVC). Moreover, they provide insight into spatial differences and trends of MP/TWP load in local (urban) air on a small scale. While busy, stop and go dominated roads showed higher contamination of TWP, spider webs from residential areas were more often contaminated with MP other than TWP, predominantly C-PET. In some spider webs, MP accounted for up to ten percent of the total weight of the sample.

Description: This data set provides mass quantitative data of microplastics (MP) including tire wear particles (TWP) in northern Atlantic air. Air samples were taken with two different active air sampling devices (low- and high-volume samplers) during seven transects on a research cruise along the Norwegian coast up to Bear Island. Identification and quantification of MP was performed with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). More information about the measurement technique is found in the related paper (Goßmann et al., 2023; doi:10.1038/s41467-023-39340-5). MP was detected in all transects (max. 37.5 ng m-3). Particularly interesting was the ubiquity of the polyethylene terephthalate cluster (C-PET, max. 1.5 ng m-3). TWP was detected only twice, but in comparably high concentrations (max. 35 ng m-3). A close relationship of C-PET occurrence and possible re-emission processes from the ocean were suspected. The results for some polymer clusters had to be excluded due to sampling related interferences. The respective background is discussed in the related publication. The indicator used for identification and quantification of the polyvinyl chloride cluster (C-PVC) is rather unspecific. Therefore, C-PVC might be interfered by additional anthropogenic sources and the given C-PVC concentration only represents an order of magnitude.

Description: This data set represents a simultaneously taken data set for overlying air, sea surface microlayer (SML, 〈 1 mm depth), and underlying water (ULW, 1 m depth) for microplastic (MP) including tire wear particles (TWP). Samples were taken in three different Swedish fjords of varying anthropogenic impact (urban (UB), industrial (AF), and rural (GF)) with a remote-controlled research catamaran (Sea Surface Scanner (S³), doi:10.1175/JTECH-D-17-0017.1). Each day, one air sample was taken by actively sampling air during the entire daily GPS track of the S³. For the water samples, every day three SML (3x10 L) and three ULW (3x10 L) samples were taken, while the S³ was driving along the respective GPS tracks and pooled together for each day. GPS tracks are available for each day, except day 5. Here, weather conditions did not allow a deployment of the S³ and it was operated while being tied to the quay. The analysis was conducted with pyrolysis-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). Details concerning the measurements, quantification, and calibration are found in the related study (Goßmann et al., 2023; doi:10.1021/acs.est.3c05002). The indicator used for identification and quantification of the polyvinyl chloride cluster (C-PVC) is rather unspecific. Therefore, C-PVC might be interfered by additional anthropogenic sources and the given C-PVC concentration only represents an order of magnitude. Enrichment factors (EF) of MP and TWP were calculated by dividing the concentration in the SML by the concentration of the ULW. EF above one describe an enrichment in the SML, EF below one indicate a depletion.

Description: GPS track of the Sea Surface Scanner (S³) for day 1 of the sampling campaign. The table includes coordinates, date, and time of the S³ track.

Description: GPS track of the Sea Surface Scanner (S³) for day 1 of the sampling campaign. The table includes coordinates, date, and time of the S³ track.

Description: GPS track of the Sea Surface Scanner (S³) for day 1 of the sampling campaign. The table includes coordinates, date, and time of the S³ track.

Description: GPS track of the Sea Surface Scanner (S³) for day 1 of the sampling campaign. The table includes coordinates, date, and time of the S³ track.