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Nanoplastics: adapting existing methods from microplastics and nanotechnology
Citation:
Al-Abed, Souhail R., P. Potter, P. Pinto, AND Q. Birch. Nanoplastics: adapting existing methods from microplastics and nanotechnology. Global Summit on Regulatory Science 2019, Stresa, N/A, ITALY, September 24 - 27, 2019.
Impact/Purpose:
The presence of plastic particles is a persistent environmental problem. Plastics break into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPls) when they undergo environmental exposure and aging. Even though there is no standard definition of NPls, they are usually sized as 1,000 nm. The range of 100-1,000 nm are overlooked and are outside the detection capabilities of the techniques typically applied to MPs. The adaptation of different techniques as micro-FTIR and micro-Raman spectroscopy to NPls requires better separation techniques. Additionally, other techniques like Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Nanoparticle Tracking Analysis (NTA), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) can measure NPls but cannot differentiate them from other nanomaterials present in environmental samples. The adaptation of these techniques is of high importance to the scientific community in search of suitable techniques to evaluate the effects of NPls in the environment at global scale. The discussion of these adaptations will be highly regarded by the assistants and speakers of the Global Summit on Regulatory Science 2019 Nanotechnology and Nanoplastics and the EPA will be shown as a source of innovation in developing techniques to characterize emerging contaminants.
Description:
Plastic is a persistent and growing environmental pollutant. Plastics breakdown into microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPls) when they undergo environmental exposure and aging. The presence of NPl &MPs contaminating drinking water, urban watersheds, marine, and freshwater environments has been reported. To effectively address and quantify their spread, we need to be able to properly characterize NPl & MPs and use their physicochemical parameters to determine their age and source. There is also a need for a standard definition of nanoplastics. Nanomaterials refer to any materials that have one dimension that is less than 100 nm. While this same definition should likely be applied to nanoplastics for consistency, it would leave a class of particles 100-1000 nm that are not strictly considered to be nanoplastics and are also outside the detection capabilities of common microplastic techniques. NPls detection presents more challenges and requires innovation that can be drawn out from another rich source of methodology in nanotechnology. Spectroscopic techniques such as Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and Raman spectroscopy could work on nanoplastic aggregates but would require additional effort to deconvolute a spectrum of mixed polymers. Determining size and number of nanomaterials typically uses dynamic light scattering (DLS), nanoparticle tracking analysis (NTA), or transmission electron microscopy (TEM). These techniques can easily see nanoplastics but cannot differentiate them from other nano-sized components that are ubiquitous in environmental samples. Advanced separation techniques for nanoplastics must be developed before DLS, NTA, or TEM can be used to count and determine their morphology. Unique sources for nanoplastics must also be considered, such as 3D printing. Condensation particle counters (CPCs) are typically used to measure aerosols formed during 3D printing that may be composed of particles that qualify as nanoplastics.