Outlook on optical identification of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments

Peiponen, Kai–Erik; Räty, Jukka; Ishaq, Umair; Pélisset, Ségolène; Ali, Rizwan

doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.09.111

Cited by 55 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…It is a shared opinion, in fact, that methods to characterize the chemical nature of nanoplastics, especially in water environment, are still to be invented. 16,15,12,46,47,48 Among the "classical" analytical techniques Raman spectroscopy, indeed, has the potential to probe nanomaterials. 49 Although the spatial resolution is limited by diffraction to ~ 250 nm (in the visible range) the sensitivity is at the single nanostructure level (carbon nanotubes with few nm diameters can be easily analyzed) 50 and plastic particles with sizes of few tens of nanometers can be detected.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman Tweezers as a Tool for Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Identification in Sea Water

Gillibert¹,

G²,

Deshoules³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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Our understanding of the fate and distribution of micro- and nano- plastics in the marine environment and their impact on the biota compartment is limited by the intrinsic difficulties of conventional analytical techniques (light scattering, FT-IR, Raman, optical and electron microscopies) in the detection, quantification and chemical identification of small particles in liquid samples. Here we propose the use of optical tweezers, a technique awarded in 2018 with the Nobel prize, as an analytical tool for the study of micro- and nano- plastics in sea water. In particular, we exploit the combination of optical tweezers with Raman spectroscopy (Raman Tweezers, RTs) to optically trap plastic particles with sizes from tens of µm down to 90 nm and unambiguously reveal their chemical composition. RTs applications are shown on particles made of the most common plastic pollutants, including polyethylene, polypropylene, nylon and polystyrene, that are artificially fragmented and aged directly in seawater. RTs allow us to assess the size and shapes of microparticles (beads, fragments, fibers) and can be applied to investigate particles covered with organic layers. Furthermore, operating at the single particle level, RTs enable unambiguous distinction of plastic particles from marine microorganisms and seawater minerals, overcoming the capacities of standard Raman spectroscopy in liquid, limited to average measurements. Coupled to suitable extraction and concentration protocols, RTs could have a strong impact in the study of the fate of micro and nanoplastics in marine environment, as well as in the understanding of the fragmentation processes on a multi-scale level.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Raman Tweezers as a Tool for Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Identification in Sea Water

Gillibert¹,

G²,

Deshoules³

et al. 2019

Preprint

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“…The refractive index of the commercial samples obtained from ellipsometric measurements [16], the sandpaper grit values, and the corresponding average surface roughness measured from five scanned lines with Mitutoyo stylus profilometer (SJ-210, Japan) are shown in Table 1. Figure 1a also shows schematics of the roughened flat PET MPs, with different average (effective) surface roughness on side 1 and 2, and curved MPs from the PET bottle (B).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Laser beam scattering for the detection of flat, curved, smooth, and rough microplastics in water

Asamoah

Amoani

Roussey

et al. 2020

Opt Rev

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Microplastic (MP) pollution is alarming and poses an imminent threat to the environment with a direct impact on our health and that of fauna in natural water bodies. The understanding of light-MP interactions in water as well as the need for low-cost and robust optical sensors for the detection of MPs that appear everywhere is, therefore, necessary. We have demonstrated the use of a prototype optical sensor in the detection of flat and curved [from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) water bottle] pristine and rough MPs from commercial PET and low-density polyethylene plastics in water. The optical sensor utilizes a photodiode and charge-coupled device (CCD) camera to record simultaneously the specular reflection and the speckle pattern modified by the MPs. In this study, we have exploited the specular reflection in the detection of the pristine samples, whereas the speckle contrast, the normalized standard deviation of the speckle pattern intensity, is utilized in the qualitative estimation of the "effective" surface roughness of the MPs. With the sensor, one can, therefore, detect PET MPs with varying average surface roughness, Ra an indication of MP aging, embedded in water. The prototype can detect the effect of size, type, curvature, transparency, and the translucency of sunken and/or floating MPs in water based on the reflection, scattering, and the (edge) diffraction of light. However, the optical sensor is limited in the discrimination of MP concentration in water. Further modifications to the sensor are needed for its practical implementation in complex natural water bodies and wastewaters.

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“…However, this experiment only introduced the usability of this method, and the specific results were not given [ 74 ]. Additionally, other studies have shown that MNPs can be detected by optical measurement, which provides a basis for later detection methods [ 76 , 77 ]. Building on the studies investigating the distribution of MPs before 2015 [ 21 ], recent studies have increasingly focused on the pathways that allow direct exposure of MPs to humans, such as drinking water and table salt [ 33 , 63 , 64 , 70 , 71 ].…”

Section: Mnps In the Environmentmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review

Jiang

Kauffman

et al. 2020

Environ Health Prev Med

239

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Plastics are extensively used in our daily life. However, a significant amount of plastic waste is discharged to the environment directly or via improper reuse or recycling. Degradation of plastic waste generates micro-or nanosized plastic particles that are defined as micro-or nanoplastics (MNPs). Microplastics (MPs) are plastic particles with a diameter less than 5 mm, while nanoplastics (NPs) range in diameter from 1 to 100 or 1000 nm. In the current review, we first briefly summarized the environmental contamination of MNPs and then discussed their health impacts based on existing MNP research. Our review indicates that MNPs can be detected in both marine and terrestrial ecosystems worldwide and be ingested and accumulated by animals along the food chain. Evidence has suggested the harmful health impacts of MNPs on marine and freshwater animals. Recent studies found MPs in human stool samples, suggesting that humans are exposed to MPs through food and/or drinking water. However, the effect of MNPs on human health is scarcely researched. In addition to the MNPs themselves, these tiny plastic particles can release plastic additives and/or adsorb other environmental chemicals, many of which have been shown to exhibit endocrine disrupting and other toxic effects. In summary, we conclude that more studies are necessary to provide a comprehensive understanding of MNP pollution hazards and also provide a basis for the subsequent pollution management and control.

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Outlook on optical identification of micro- and nanoplastics in aquatic environments

Cited by 55 publications

References 26 publications

Raman Tweezers as a Tool for Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Identification in Sea Water

Raman Tweezers as a Tool for Small Microplastics and Nanoplastics Identification in Sea Water

Laser beam scattering for the detection of flat, curved, smooth, and rough microplastics in water

Health impacts of environmental contamination of micro- and nanoplastics: a review

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