Initiating environmental microplastics analysis: A review and planning guide with practical insights from laboratory...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry
• Materials Science

Background:

• Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly recognized as pervasive environmental contaminants with potential health risks.
• Widespread interest in MP monitoring necessitates robust analytical methods.
• Existing methods for MP analysis face challenges, with limited guidance for laboratories initiating such work.

Purpose of the Study:

• To provide comprehensive, practical guidance for laboratories planning to initiate environmental microplastic analysis.
• To assist laboratories in decision-making regarding planning, setup, costs, and logistics for MP monitoring.
• To offer a practical framework for implementing nondestructive MP analysis methods.

Main Methods:

• Focuses on commonly used nondestructive methods for physical isolation, quantification, and characterization of MPs.
• Presents an iterative planning diagram working backward from characterization to sampling.
• Discusses Quality Assurance and Quality Control (QA/QC), emphasizing contamination reduction as a key challenge.

Main Results:

• Provides detailed information on time, costs, and logistics for establishing MP analysis.
• Highlights QA/QC and contamination reduction as critical factors for reliable MP data.
• Offers practical advice grounded in authors' experience and current literature.

Conclusions:

• This review equips utility, commercial, and research laboratories with essential information for initiating microplastic analysis.
• The provided guidance and example methods/SOPs facilitate the adoption of robust MP monitoring.
• Effective planning and rigorous QA/QC are crucial for successful environmental microplastic analysis.