The PlasticAir project aims to decrease the concentration of microplastic particles in the air, a problem that has grown along with the production of plastic on the planet, and that can be extremely harmful to humans and aquatic and terrestrial animals. Although it does not have free electrons, plastics can undergo electrification, a phenomenon that consists of giving electrical charges to a neutral body through an electrically charged body, which can happen through friction, induction and contact. In the case of microplastics, this process occurs, mainly, by the friction of a plastic surface, promoting its electrification by friction.

According to data from the world health organization, air pollution kills about seven million people worldwide each year. WHO data show that 9 out of 10 people breathe air that exceeds the limits of the WHO guidelines containing high levels of pollutants, with low- and middle-income countries suffering from the highest exposures. WHO is supporting countries to combat air pollution.

From air pollution hovering over cities to smoke in the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and the climate. The combined effects of ambient (outdoor) and domestic air pollution cause about seven million premature deaths each year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute respiratory infections. To monitor the air is to continuously observe the concentrations in the atmosphere of any pollutants that affect its quality. The air quality index - IQAr is an informative scale of concentrations, established in Brazil with the air quality standards determined by the Resolution by CONAMA 03/90. The legislation establishes parameters and also the primary and secondary standards of air quality. The primary standards are the concentrations of pollutants that, when exceeded, may affect the health of the population. Secondary air quality standards, on the other hand, are the concentrations of air pollutants below which the minimum adverse effect on the well-being of the population, materials and the environment in general is expected (CONAMA, 2020).

The systematic determination of air quality is done by measuring the following Air Quality Indicators:

Total Suspended Particles (PTS)

Smoke

Inhalable Particles (PI or PM10)

Sulfur Dioxide (SO2)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Ozone (O3)

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

      The Indicators of Total Suspended Particles and Inhalable Particles are the most relevant for our study because they contain microplastics, in addition to other solid and liquid materials suspended in the atmosphere, such as dust, dust, soot and microparticles of various materials. . The particle size is the criterion used for the classification of these materials (SEM AUTHOR, 2020).

      Thicker particles are trapped in the nose and throat, causing discomfort and irritation, in addition to facilitating diseases such as flu to settle in the body. Thinner particles can cause damage to the respiratory tract and carry other "hitchhiking" pollutants to the pulmonary alveoli, causing chronic effects such as respiratory, heart disease and cancer. People who remain in places heavily polluted by inhalable particles are more vulnerable to disease in general (NOSSE, 2020).

      Any substance present in the air is considered to be polluting and which, due to its concentration, may render it inappropriate, harmful or offensive to health, inconvenient to public welfare, harmful to materials, fauna and flora or harmful to safety, use and enjoyment of property and normal community activities (NOSSE, 2020). Particles in the air can penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the body systematically, affecting the cardiovascular system and other important organ systems. Chronic exposure to particles leads to increased risks of premature mortality from heart attack, stroke, respiratory infections and lung cancer. The measurements of PM10 and PM2.5, that is, particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 or 2.5 microns, respectively, serve as indicators of air quality.

In this sense, it is important to monitor air quality and continuously evaluate the characteristics and new pollutants capable of transforming air, making it not conducive to human beings and the environment in general, such as plastic microparticles.

      It is noticeable that the annual production of plastic has been increasing progressively over the years. In the early 1950s, this production corresponded to 2 million metric tons, a survey conducted in 2015 revealed that this production is currently equivalent to 400 million metric tons of plastic per year. Plastic waste that is sloppyly disposed of in the environment, when it undergoes weathering actions, ends up becoming microplastic particles (IBERDROLA, 2020).

      Microplastics are particulates smaller than 5 mm that are easily inhaled or ingested by aquatic, terrestrial animals and humans and are particularly harmful to people with respiratory diseases. In addition, these particles can also carry toxic pollutants present in the air (European Parliament, 2018). A survey carried out by scientists from the Department of Biology at the University of Victoria, found that the intake of microplastics varies from 74 thousand to 121 thousand particles per year, according to the age and sex of each person, and in addition to indirect consumption, with the feeding of seafood, there is also direct ingestion considering the high probability of food becoming contaminated during the various stages of its processing or as a result of packaging (VEIGA, 2019).

PlasticAir is a canvas made with a material impregnated with magnetite that magnetically attracts microparticles of plastics from the air, which would be attached to an aluminum structure for support. This screen would be installed on car ceilings, hospital walls and even urban poles. Thus, the microplastics that would come to be inhaled, ingested and accumulated in our organism would be accumulated in this screen, therefore it would remain to remove them from this one so that they could be collected and the screen continues to exercise its function (capture even more microplastics). For the collection, an electrification of the screen would be made so that it acquired a neutral charge, and thus, the microplastics would no longer be attracted and could be collected easily, with a vacuum cleaner or similar apparatus. Afterwards, the microplastics will go to recycling.