Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization

Mourik, Louise M. van; Crum, S.J.H.; Martínez-Francés, Elena; Bavel, Bert van; Leslie, H.A.; Boer, Jacob de; Cofino, W.P.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071

Cited by 45 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…So far, no internationally harmonized guideline has been adopted for MP analysis in drinking water, though this is important to produce comparable data. Instead, the use of different methods and protocols for data assessment are still prevail, as also highlighted by a recently published international interlaboratory study [13]. In addition, the lack of a harmonized protocol for MP quantification hampers a firm conclusion on exposure levels from drinking water and other exposure routes [14].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study of Microplastic Particles in Danish Tap Water

Feld

Silva

Murphy

et al. 2021

Water

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Microplastics (MPs) are omnipresent in our surroundings and in the environment, with drinking water being a potential pathway for human exposure. This study investigated the presence of MPs in Danish drinking water from 17 different households and workplaces in Denmark. Samples of tap water were collected using a closed sampling system to decrease airborne contamination, and QA/QC measurements were performed to assess background contamination. Particles >100 µm were visually analysed by stereomicroscopy in combination with spectroscopy analysis (µ-FTIR) to evaluate morphology and chemical composition. An assessment of MP particles down to 10 µm was performed on water samples from three locations using hyperspectral image analysis. The results indicate a low level of MPs in Danish drinking water, with a total of seven MP particles across all samples, comprising PET, PP, PS, and ABS. Microfibers were the most common type of MP-like particles in both drinking water and blanks, but the concentration for all samples was below the limit of detection and could not be differentiated from background contamination. Most of the particles analysed by µ-FTIR were identified as cellulose fibres and a smaller subset as protein. Based on this work, we discuss the status of MP drinking water studies and address challenges and limitations regarding the analysis of MP in drinking water.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Study of Microplastic Particles in Danish Tap Water

Feld

Silva

Murphy

et al. 2021

Water

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“…In another ILC the target was to identify the polymers type, number or mass of MP [250]. In this ILC 12 examples were distributed, six with different types of polymers, five with smaller MPs with soda tablets and a blank soda tablet.…”

Section: Some Common Issues That Call For a Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Micro-Nano Plastic in the Aquatic Environment: Methodological Problems and Challenges

Uddin

Fowler

Habibi

et al. 2022

Animals

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Microplastic research has become a buzz word. It is seen as one of the most pressing issues of Anthropocene contamination. There is certainly no doubt about the ubiquitous presence of microplastic (MP) in almost all environmental matrices. However, the validity of considering them as a vector for contaminants needs some reconsideration, there are other more potent pathways. Their effect on marine biota also calls for some realistic experiments with environmental concentrations of MP and nanoplastic (NP). It has been observed that in most published literature, polymer characterization is performed. Is it necessary to do, or will merely finding and confirming the particle as plastic suffice for environmental research? Harmonization of protocols is necessary, and there is likely a need for some inter-laboratory comparison exercises in order to produce comparable data and reliable assessments across regions. Samples collected from the same area using different techniques show an order of magnitude difference in MP concentration. The issue of nanoplastic is more contentious; are we technologically ready to identify NP in environmental samples?

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“…External quality control measures, as widely applied in other fields of analytical chemistry, are still under development for microplastic research and monitoring. First interlaboratory studies still report challenges in the accuracy and precision of microplastic determinations in environmental samples (van Mourik et al, 2021). Attempts are ongoing to produce reference materials, which can support the laboratory's internal QA/QC (von der Data processing and reporting in the field of microplastic research Due to the fact, that various spectroscopy and thermoanalytical methods currently exist for a range of instrument types produced by different manufacturers using a series of software and databases, the quality and comparability of the derived microplastic data are influenced by these factors.…”

Section: Synergies Between Thermoanalytical and Spectroscopic Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Monitoring of microplastic pollution in the Arctic: recent developments in polymer identification, quality assurance and control, and data reporting

et al. 2023

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The pollution of the environment with plastics is of growing concern worldwide, including the Arctic region. While larger plastic pieces are a visible pollution issue, smaller microplastics are not visible with the naked eye. These particles are available for interaction by Arctic biota and have become a concern for animal and human health. The determination of microplastic properties includes several methodological steps, i.e. sampling, extraction, quantification and chemical identification. This review discusses suitable analytical tools for the identification, quantification and characterization of microplastics in the context of monitoring in the Arctic. It further addresses quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) which is particularly important for the determination of microplastic in the Arctic, as both contamination and analyte losses can occur. It presents specific QA/QC measures for sampling procedures and for the handling of samples in the laboratory, either on land or on ship, and considering the small size of microplastics as well as the high risk of contamination. The review depicts which data should be mandatory to report, thereby supporting a framework for harmonized data reporting.

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Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization

Cited by 45 publications

References 19 publications

A Study of Microplastic Particles in Danish Tap Water

A Study of Microplastic Particles in Danish Tap Water

Micro-Nano Plastic in the Aquatic Environment: Methodological Problems and Challenges

Monitoring of microplastic pollution in the Arctic: recent developments in polymer identification, quality assurance and control, and data reporting

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