Monitoring anthropogenic particles in the environment: Recent developments and remaining challenges at the forefront of analytical methods

Mattsson, Karin; Silva, Vitor Hugo da; Deonarine, Amrika; Louie, Stacey M.; Gondikas, Andreas

doi:10.1016/j.cocis.2021.101513

Cited by 24 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 170 publications

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“…The detection and characterization of particles becomes more challenging with decreasing particle size; in addition, number concentrations increase with decreasing particle size (Mattsson et al, 2021b). Thus, the second procedure applied was more complicated and targeted small microplastics and nanoplastics.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for the detection and characterization of boat paint microplastics in the marine environment

Gondikas

Mattsson

Hassellöv

2023

Front. Environ. Chem.

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Microplastics in the marine environment have been the focus of intense research recently, however little attention has been given to boat paint sources, despite its direct influence on the marine ecosystem. This is largely due to the lack of established analytical methods. Microplastics from boating sources may originate from antifouling paints on the underwater body, surface coatings on the top sides, deck, and superstructure, as well as plastic parts of the boat construction. Their release can occur during construction, operation (leisure boats and commercial ships), service, and maintenance, from the materials themselves or used chemicals (e.g., abrasive detergents). Most importantly, boat paint microplastics containing biocides, such as the metals copper and zinc, and particles containing tin (residues from old or current use of tributyl-tin ship hull paints) should raise higher concern on potential environmental impacts. This study aims to provide practical insight on methods for the quantification of boat paint microplastics in marine waters and provide a baseline survey on their occurrence. Sampling and analysis methods are applied on case studies, i.e., marinas on the Swedish coast. A multi-method approach for identifying and characterizing boat paint microplastics based on visual and chemical characteristics is presented. In general, the measured content of biocide-containing microplastics was remarkably high in all marinas, with concentration levels of copper-rich particles >10 μm between 400 and 1400 particles per L. Given that biocide paint particles are manufactured to be toxic, it is particularly important to take into account field measurements in future environmental status assessments. This work underlines the importance of monitoring data in the action work between relevant authorities and stakeholders.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Methods for the detection and characterization of boat paint microplastics in the marine environment

Gondikas

Mattsson

Hassellöv

2023

Front. Environ. Chem.

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“…Conventional techniques for microparticle investigations mainly include Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (Py-GCMS), Single-particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (spICPMS), Electron microscopy technique, Particle Tracking Analysis (PTA) and Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS) [6][7][8]. Detection of particles in complex matrix is difficult in Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (Py-GCMS) due to high background signals, which is a major limitation of these highly sensitive techniques.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Detection of particles in complex matrix is difficult in Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy (Py-GCMS) due to high background signals, which is a major limitation of these highly sensitive techniques. Complex data processing and the assumptions needed for quantitative and qualitative identification of micro particles is a challenge in spICPMS technique [8]. Smaller particles go undetected in DLS technique, since large particles scatter more light [8].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Microplastics Using a Custom Built Micro-Raman Spectrometer

Unnimaya

Mithun²,

Lukose³

et al. 2023

J. Phys.: Conf. Ser.

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Microplastics are plastic particles less than 5 mm in size but larger than 0.1 µm. Widespread microplastic pollution in aquatic and terrestrial environment is raising serious concern globally due to its detrimental impacts on living beings. This urge for the necessity of a sensitive analytical tool, which can facilitate reliable identification of microplastics. Micro-Raman spectroscopy enables molecular level structural details of samples and thus highly preferable for the identification of microplastics in water. Besides being a non-destructive technique enabling fast analysis, this technique requires minimal/no sample preparation. The present work demonstrates the performance of a custom built Micro-Raman spectrometer for the discrimination of various microplastics in water based samples. Micro- Raman analysis have been found quite successful in the identification of Polystyrene (PS), Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), High Density Poly ethylene (HDPE), Low Density Poly ethylene (LDPE) etc. The Micro-Raman spectral data have been capable enough for the discrimination of high-density polyethylene (HDPE,> 0.940 g/cm3) and low-density polyethylene (LDPE,< 0.930 g/cm3) microplastics, especially due to the variations in the C-H stretching vibrations (2825-2970 cm−1). The ratio of intensities of asymmetric CH2 stretching mode (2879 cm−1) and the symmetric CH2 stretching mode (2847 cm−1) are found to be higher for HDPE with respect to LDPE. Moreover, intensity variations were also observed for the antisymmetric and symmetric C-C stretching bands present at 1059 cm−1 and 1126 cm−1 respectively. The band at 1167 cm−1 arising from CH vibration have also shown an intensity enhancement in HDPE samples.

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“…Anthropogenic microparticles, including microplastics, paint particles, tire and road wear particles, are particles in size range between 1 and 1000 μm 1 that are intentionally or incidentally released into the environment by humans 2 . Land-based activities are the primary source of microplastic particles in the marine environment 3 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Visual analysis, which includes both visual and tactile identification and sometimes particle heating, i.e., poking the particle with a hot needle, has been criticized because of the risk of misidentification, resulting in false negative and false positive identification of plastic particles 20 , 33 – 35 . On the other hand, spectroscopy builds on chemical spectra interpretation 36 , and can provide spectroscopic clues on microplastic identification, including specific polymer composition 2 . However, computer-based database match identification can be prone to mismatch 37 , 38 , and operator bias may also lead to bias in spectroscopic identification 39 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of pre-treatment methods and heavy density liquids to optimize microplastic extraction from natural marine sediments

Mattsson

Ekstrand

Granberg

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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The ubiquitous occurrence of anthropogenic particles, including microplastics in the marine environment, has, over the last years, gained worldwide attention. As a result, many methods have been developed to estimate the amount and type of microplastics in the marine environment. However, there are still no standardized protocols for how different marine matrices should be sampled or how to extract and identify these particles, making meaningful data comparison hard. Buoyant microplastics are influenced by winds and currents, and concentrations could hence be expected to be highly variable over time. However, since both high density and most of the initially buoyant microplastics are known to eventually sink and settle on the seafloor, marine sediments are proposed as a suitable matrix for microplastics monitoring. Several principles, apparatuses, and protocols for extracting microplastics from marine sediments have been presented, but extensive comparison of the different steps in the protocols using real environmental samples is lacking. Thus, in this study, different pre-treatment and subsequent density separation protocols for extraction of microplastics from replicate samples of marine sediment were compared. Two pre-treatment methods, one using inorganic chemicals (NaClO + KOH + Na4P2O7) and one using porcine pancreatic enzymes, as well as one with no pre-treatment of the sediment, were compared in combination with two commonly used high-density saline solutions used for density separation, sodium chloride (NaCl) and zinc chloride (ZnCl2). Both pre-treatment methods effectively removed organic matter, and both saline solutions extracted lighter plastic particles such as polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). The most efficient combination, chemical pre-treatment and density separation with ZnCl2, was found to extract > 15 times more particles (≥ 100 µm) from the sediment than other treatment combinations, which could largely be explained by the high presence and efficient extraction of PVC particles.

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Monitoring anthropogenic particles in the environment: Recent developments and remaining challenges at the forefront of analytical methods

Cited by 24 publications

References 170 publications

Methods for the detection and characterization of boat paint microplastics in the marine environment

Methods for the detection and characterization of boat paint microplastics in the marine environment

Identification of Microplastics Using a Custom Built Micro-Raman Spectrometer

Comparison of pre-treatment methods and heavy density liquids to optimize microplastic extraction from natural marine sediments

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