Lecture
Microplastic analysis of drinking water samples in accordance with EU legislation – challenges and pitfalls
- at -
- ICM Saal 3
- Type: Lecture
Lecture description
In March 2024, the EU published a delegated decision [1] specifying how microplastics in drinking water are to be measured across Europe. The legal act specifies that 1 m³ of drinking water must be sampled using a filtration cascade (mesh sizes 100 µm and
20 µm) and particles ≥ 20 µm must be examined using microspectroscopic analysis methods (Raman microspectroscopy (µ-Raman), Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (µ-FTIR) or quantum cascade laser spectroscopy (QCL). The samples must also be representative of the ‘supply system’.
Even though there is now a standardised procedure for microplastic analysis in drinking water, there are still a number of challenges that present themself during the investigation– from sampling, sample preparation to analysis and data evaluation using
spectroscopic methods. There are several pitfalls that must be considered, especially quality assurance and quality control [2]. The presentation will address these aspects in more detail.
Literature:
[1] Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2024/1441 of 11 March 2024 supplementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down a methodology to measure microplastics in water intended for human consumption, Official Journal of the European Union 21.05.2024.
[2] Witzig, C. S., Földi, C., Wörle, K., Habermehl, P., Pittroff, M., Müller, Y. K., Lauschke, T., Fiener, P., Dierkes, G., Freier, K. P., Zumbülte, N. When Good Intentions Go Bad—False Positive Microplastic Detection Caused by Disposable Gloves, Environmental Science & Technology 2020, 54(19), 12164-12712,
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c03742.
20 µm) and particles ≥ 20 µm must be examined using microspectroscopic analysis methods (Raman microspectroscopy (µ-Raman), Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (µ-FTIR) or quantum cascade laser spectroscopy (QCL). The samples must also be representative of the ‘supply system’.
Even though there is now a standardised procedure for microplastic analysis in drinking water, there are still a number of challenges that present themself during the investigation– from sampling, sample preparation to analysis and data evaluation using
spectroscopic methods. There are several pitfalls that must be considered, especially quality assurance and quality control [2]. The presentation will address these aspects in more detail.
Literature:
[1] Commission Delegated Decision (EU) 2024/1441 of 11 March 2024 supplementing Directive (EU) 2020/2184 of the European Parliament and of the Council by laying down a methodology to measure microplastics in water intended for human consumption, Official Journal of the European Union 21.05.2024.
[2] Witzig, C. S., Földi, C., Wörle, K., Habermehl, P., Pittroff, M., Müller, Y. K., Lauschke, T., Fiener, P., Dierkes, G., Freier, K. P., Zumbülte, N. When Good Intentions Go Bad—False Positive Microplastic Detection Caused by Disposable Gloves, Environmental Science & Technology 2020, 54(19), 12164-12712,
https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.est.0c03742.
