Correlative Microscopy and Spectroscopy Workflow for Microplastics

Sarau, George; Kling, Lasse; Oßmann, Barbara E.; Unger, Ann-Katrin; Vogler, Frank; Christiansen, Silke

doi:10.1177/0003702820916250

Cited by 26 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…For MP particles down to 1 μm, techniques employing a correlative combination of light microscopy or hyperspectral imaging with identification by laser confocal Raman and TOF-SIMS are under development [78][79][80]. For plastic particles in the nanoscale, correlative scanning electron microscopy (SEM) -confocal Raman spectroscopy has being explored [81,82]. Critical for the analysis of particles <1 μm in simple and complex matrices is the need of employing appropriate isolation and fractionation techniques for the particles (i.e., sub-fractions in the nanoscale).…”

Section: Pioneering Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paradigms to assess the human health risks of nano- and microplastics

et al. 2021

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Human exposure to nano- and microplastics (NMPs) has raised major societal concerns, yet no framework to assess the risks of NMPs for human health exists. A substantial proportion of plastic produced worldwide is not properly disposed and persists in the environment for decades while degrading. Plastic degradation generates a size continuum of fragments, including nano- and microplastic particles, with numerous associated environmental pollutants and plastic additives, and microbial communities colonising their surfaces. The ubiquitous presence of NMPs, their availability for uptake by organisms and their potential to act as vectors for toxicants and pathogens render risk assessment a priority on the political agenda at the global level. We provide a new, fully integrated risk assessment framework tailored to the specificities of NMPs, enabling an assessment of current and future human health risks from NMPs. The framework consists of four novel paradigms to the traditional risk assessment methodology. These paradigms deal with techniques in NMP analysis, gaps in empirical data, theoretical and modelling approaches and stakeholder engagement. Within the proposed framework, we propose how we can use research experiences gained so far to carry out the different steps of the assessment process, and we define priorities for further research.

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Section: Pioneering Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paradigms to assess the human health risks of nano- and microplastics

et al. 2021

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“…For MP, the random sampling is well applicable down to 10 μm [ 10 ]. However, for very small MP and especially nanoplastic [ 11 , 36 , 40 , 46 ], the complete filter cannot be imaged in a practical manner and the total particle number is not accessible; thus, another subsampling method has to be found. Of course, this problem is not restricted to MP analysis or a specific size range, it is rather universal and relevant whenever particles (points) have to be selected from a two-dimensional surface.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…For MP, the random sampling is well applicable down to 10 μm [10]. However, for very small MP and especially nanoplastic [11,36,40,46], the complete filter cannot be imaged in a practical manner and the total particle number Fig. 1 Box containing a summary of sample size and confidence interval calculation in random sampling on a completely imaged filter (urn model without replacement) is not accessible; thus, another subsampling method has to be found.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Which particles to select, and if yes, how many?

Schwaferts

Esch

et al. 2021

Anal Bioanal Chem

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Micro- and nanoplastic contamination is becoming a growing concern for environmental protection and food safety. Therefore, analytical techniques need to produce reliable quantification to ensure proper risk assessment. Raman microspectroscopy (RM) offers identification of single particles, but to ensure that the results are reliable, a certain number of particles has to be analyzed. For larger MP, all particles on the Raman filter can be detected, errors can be quantified, and the minimal sample size can be calculated easily by random sampling. In contrast, very small particles might not all be detected, demanding a window-based analysis of the filter. A bootstrap method is presented to provide an error quantification with confidence intervals from the available window data. In this context, different window selection schemes are evaluated and there is a clear recommendation to employ random (rather than systematically placed) window locations with many small rather than few larger windows. Ultimately, these results are united in a proposed RM measurement algorithm that computes confidence intervals on-the-fly during the analysis and, by checking whether given precision requirements are already met, automatically stops if an appropriate number of particles are identified, thus improving efficiency.

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“…The research field on the biological effects of micro-and, in particular, nanoplastic particles is in its infancy, hence methodologies and procedures have not consolidated yet. In particular, the currently available analytical techniques are still lagging behind the urgent need to characterize particles <100 nm, although there have been some recent advancements in the fields of correlative microscopy and Raman imaging [25][26][27]. In sum, we have identified in a PubMed survey (search date 9 November 2020; search terms nanoplastic and human) only 11 articles dealing with the biological effects of nanoplastics [28][29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38], underlining the current lack of knowledge in this field.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessment of Human Health Risks Posed by Nano-and Microplastics Is Currently Not Feasible

Brachner

Fragouli

Duarte

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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The exposure of humans to nano-and microplastic particles (NMPs) is an issue recognized as a potential health hazard by scientists, authorities, politics, non-governmental organizations and the general public. The concentration of NMPs in the environment is increasing concomitantly with global plastic production and the usage of plastic materials. NMPs are detectable in numerous aquatic organisms and also in human samples, therefore necessitating a risk assessment of NMPs for human health. So far, a comprehensive risk assessment of NMPs is hampered by limited availability of appropriate reference materials, analytical obstacles and a lack of definitions and standardized study designs. Most studies conducted so far used polystyrene (PS) spheres as a matter of availability, although this polymer type accounts for only about 7% of total plastic production. Differently sized particles, different concentration and incubation times, and various biological models have been used, yielding hardly comparable data sets. Crucial physico-chemical properties of NMPs such as surface (charge, polarity, chemical reactivity), supplemented additives and adsorbed chemicals have been widely excluded from studies, although in particular the surface of NMPs determines the interaction with cellular membranes. In this manuscript we give an overview about the critical parameters which should be considered when performing risk assessments of NMPs, including novel reference materials, taking into account surface modifications (e.g., reflecting weathering processes), and the possible role of NMPs as a substrate and/or carrier for (pathogenic) microbes. Moreover, we make suggestions for biological model systems to evaluate immediate toxicity, long-term effects and the potential of NMPs to cross biological barriers. We are convinced that standardized reference materials and experimental parameters along with technical innovations in (nano)-particle sampling and analytics are a prerequisite for the successful realization of conclusive human health risk assessments of NMPs.

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Correlative Microscopy and Spectroscopy Workflow for Microplastics

Cited by 26 publications

References 23 publications

Paradigms to assess the human health risks of nano- and microplastics

Paradigms to assess the human health risks of nano- and microplastics

Which particles to select, and if yes, how many?

Assessment of Human Health Risks Posed by Nano-and Microplastics Is Currently Not Feasible

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