Is It or Isn't It: The Importance of Visual Classification in Microplastic Characterization

Lusher, Amy; Bråte, Inger Lise Nerland; Munno, Keenan; Hurley, Rachel; Welden, Natalie A.

doi:10.1177/0003702820930733

Cited by 161 publications

(93 citation statements)

References 61 publications

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“…Photographs of all potential microplastics were recorded, size (mm) and surface area (mm 2 ) were measured using Image software, and their morphology (fibres or fragments) was described. Visual identification followed 63 where fibres are distinguished from fragments based on the length to width composition. All selected particles from each sample were subjected to further chemical characterisation using µFT-IR analysis on PerkinElmer Spotlight 400 FTIR (transmission micro-FTIR with DCC).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…All selected particles from each sample were subjected to further chemical characterisation using µFT-IR analysis on PerkinElmer Spotlight 400 FTIR (transmission micro-FTIR with DCC). The spectra were processed the same way as for the surface samples, details are given in 63 . The weight of subsurface microplastics was estimated on the base of the polymer density and volume of every particle, with an assumption that all the fibres are cylinders with visible diameter, and the fragments thickness was roughly estimated by comparison with the sizes of the fibres nearby.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers

Yakushev

Gebruk

Osadchiev

et al. 2021

Commun Earth Environ

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Plastic pollution is globally recognised as a threat to marine ecosystems, habitats, and wildlife, and it has now reached remote locations such as the Arctic Ocean. Nevertheless, the distribution of microplastics in the Eurasian Arctic is particularly underreported. Here we present analyses of 60 subsurface pump water samples and 48 surface neuston net samples from the Eurasian Arctic with the goal to quantify and classify microplastics in relation to oceanographic conditions. In our study area, we found on average 0.004 items of microplastics per m3 in the surface samples, and 0.8 items per m3 in the subsurface samples. Microplastic characteristics differ significantly between Atlantic surface water, Polar surface water and discharge plumes of the Great Siberian Rivers, allowing identification of two sources of microplastic pollution (p < 0.05 for surface area, morphology, and polymer types). The highest weight concentration of microplastics was observed within surface waters of Atlantic origin. Siberian river discharge was identified as the second largest source. We conclude that these water masses govern the distribution of microplastics in the Eurasian Arctic. The microplastics properties (i.e. abundance, polymer type, size, weight concentrations) can be used for identification of the water masses.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers

Yakushev

Gebruk

Osadchiev

et al. 2021

Commun Earth Environ

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“…Visual classification is typically the initial step in distinguishing microplastic particles from non-synthetic microparticles. 76 Physical manipulation of the sample with tweezers and an optical microscope is one of the most common plastic classification steps, but this technique has produced considerable barriers to sample throughput that automated image classification may be able to solve. Visual classification cannot describe polymer types but gives an indication as to whether a particle is a plastic or not.…”

Section: Image Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Using multiple techniques and settings (e.g., lighting and background magnification) and incorporating several lines of evidence will aid in the accuracy of visual microplastic classification. 14,76,79 Reference Libraries. Reference libraries allow quick retrieval of microplastic shapes, surface topologies, colors, and fluorescence to validate a visual classification of microplastics.…”

Section: Image Classificationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Critical Review of Processing and Classification Techniques for Images and Spectra in Microplastic Research

et al. 2020

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“…Two tertiary-treatment WWTPs in Wuhan, which represent advanced treatment following two preceding treatments for high-quality water effluent, had microfibre removal rates as low as 66.1% and 62.7% and 43.75% was reported for a tertiary WWTP in Nanjing (Chen et al, 2020). In 2017, 2209 WWTPs treated a total of 45.29 billion m 3 of sewage in Chinese urban areas (Liu and Xu, 2019). Those WWTPs undertake both domestic sewage and industrial wastewater and have great potential to discharge into the environment.…”

Section: Wastewater Treatment Plants (Wwtps)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthesis of dominant plastic microfibre prevalence and pollution control feasibility in Chinese freshwater environments

Chan

Stanton

et al. 2021

Science of The Total Environment

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Microplastic pollution of freshwaters is known to be a great concern in China and these pollutants can be discharged into the coastal environment through fluvial processes, posing threats to the global marine ecosystem. This paper reviewed the literature measuring microplastic pollution in the Chinese freshwater environment and found that microfibres dominate other plastic morphologies in more than 65% of samples collected in surface water, sediments and effluents of wastewater treatment plants and domestic sewers.Current potential sources of microfibre pollution are identified including fishery activities, laundry sewage, and waste textiles according to previous research. Recommendations are offered using the circular economy management framework, such as textile waste reuse and recycling systems in China, for improving current control measures for microplastics in freshwaters.

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Is It or Isn't It: The Importance of Visual Classification in Microplastic Characterization

Cited by 161 publications

References 61 publications

Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers

Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers

Critical Review of Processing and Classification Techniques for Images and Spectra in Microplastic Research

Synthesis of dominant plastic microfibre prevalence and pollution control feasibility in Chinese freshwater environments

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