Contamination issues as a challenge in quality control and quality assurance in microplastics analytics

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Ecotoxicology

Background:

• Microplastics are pervasive environmental contaminants found in diverse ecosystems, including indoor air.
• Accurate assessment of microplastic impacts on environment and health requires high-quality data.
• Sample contamination can lead to overestimation of microplastic concentrations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current contamination control practices in microplastic research.
• To identify deficiencies in microplastic sampling and analysis protocols.
• To propose measures for improving data reliability in microplastic studies.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of 50 studies published in 2019 focusing on microplastic sampling.
• Analysis of adherence to 10 key contamination control parameters across various environmental matrices (biota, air, soil, sediment, water).

Main Results:

• Studies reviewed typically adhered to only 4 out of 10 contamination control measures.
• Commonly implemented measures include avoiding plastic materials, using glass or aluminum foil for sample covering, filtering solutions, and running procedural blanks.
• Observed contamination instances underscore the importance of these control measures.

Conclusions:

• Current contamination control practices in microplastic research are insufficient.
• There is a critical need for stricter adherence to contamination control protocols to ensure data accuracy.
• Seven specific measures are recommended to enhance the quality of future microplastic assessments.