Lecture
Lessons learned from microplastic data analysis across environmental matrices and analytical techniques
- at -
- ICM Saal 3
- Type: Lecture
Lecture description
While in the past decade the number of studies on microplastics (MPs) rapidly increased the meta-analysis of the generated data is hampered by a missing harmonization of the reported results. This hampers the broad scale assessment of the overall risk of these particles. To achieve comparable results to foster policy advice and decision making, the generation of harmonized data is of high importance. In the case of MP analysis, various analytical techniques are available mainly based on spectroscopic or thermoanalytical approaches. While spectroscopic methods determine number, shape as well as size and polymer type, based information, thermoanalytical analyses provide mass related and polymer type. Typical examples for spectroscopic methods are Fourier-Transform Infrared (FTIR) or quantum cascade laser (QCL) based infra-red (IR). While these allow a bias-free chemical mapping of the sample, a comparable and harmonized spectral data determination is challenging due to the different manufacturers and commercial software tools available. This generates a broad diversity in the reported data for derived material types and particle sizes. Here, the results of harmonized data analysis covering samples from air, biota, waters, sediments and soils will be presented. Different application scenarios within scientific projects like JPI-Oceans FACTS or PlastTrack are discussed. This will be combined with a short overview on lessons learned by using a harmonized analytical tool over a broad series of projects and study areas [1,2]. Finally, differences and
similarities between different analytical techniques like pyrolysis gas chromatographymass spectrometry and FTIR analysis on the exact same samples will be presented and discussed[3].
[1] Roscher, L., Halbach, M., Nguyen, M.T., Hebeler, M., Luschtinetz, F., ScholzBöttcher, B.M., Primpke, S., Gerdts, G., 2021. Microplastics in two German wastewater
treatment plants: Year-long effluent analysis with FTIR and Py-GC/MS. Science of the Total Environment, 817, 152619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152619
[2] Primpke S., Meyer B., Falcou-Préfol M., Schütte W., Gerdts G., 2024. At second glance: The importance of strict quality control – A case study on microplastic in the
Southern Ocean key species Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Science of The Total Environment, 918, 170618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170618.
[3] Primpke, S., Fischer, M., Lorenz, C. Gerdts. G., Böttcher, B.M., 2020. Comparison of pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and hyperspectral FTIR imaging
spectroscopy for the analysis of microplastics. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 412, 8283–8298 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02979-w
similarities between different analytical techniques like pyrolysis gas chromatographymass spectrometry and FTIR analysis on the exact same samples will be presented and discussed[3].
[1] Roscher, L., Halbach, M., Nguyen, M.T., Hebeler, M., Luschtinetz, F., ScholzBöttcher, B.M., Primpke, S., Gerdts, G., 2021. Microplastics in two German wastewater
treatment plants: Year-long effluent analysis with FTIR and Py-GC/MS. Science of the Total Environment, 817, 152619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.152619
[2] Primpke S., Meyer B., Falcou-Préfol M., Schütte W., Gerdts G., 2024. At second glance: The importance of strict quality control – A case study on microplastic in the
Southern Ocean key species Antarctic krill, Euphausia superba. Science of The Total Environment, 918, 170618. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170618.
[3] Primpke, S., Fischer, M., Lorenz, C. Gerdts. G., Böttcher, B.M., 2020. Comparison of pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and hyperspectral FTIR imaging
spectroscopy for the analysis of microplastics. Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry, 412, 8283–8298 https://doi.org/10.1007/s00216-020-02979-w
