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Analytical methods for detecting and characterizing microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment
Citation:
Potter, Phillip M., Q. Whiting, AND S. Al-Abed. Analytical methods for detecting and characterizing microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment. ACS Fall 2021 National Meeting, Atlanta, GA, August 22 - 27, 2021.
Impact/Purpose:
Plastics breakdown into micro- (< 5 mm) and nano-sized (<100 nm) particles when they undergo environmental exposure and aging. While these microplastics have been studied in many geographic regions, there are still many questions about their origins. This research used quantum cascade laser-based infrared imaging to identify and quantify microplastic contamination from freshwater and urban watershed systems. These findings should influence future studies on microplastics by identifying sources of microplastics in freshwater and urban watershed systems. These methodologies may be useful to a variety of government and academic researchers investigating microplastics.
Description:
Plastic waste is a growing concern due to potential adverse effects on human health and the environment. Microplastics (MPs) are < 5mm and are particularly hazardous due to their high surface area to volume ratio that facilitates leaching of their inherent additives and allows them to be efficient vectors for toxic metals and persistent organic pollutants. There is a critical need for fast and efficient microplastic detection to track sources, transport routes, and fate in urban watersheds. Nanoplastics (NPs) are generally considered to be < 1000nm and potentially pose increased risk over MPs due to smaller size that facilitates increased environmental transport, biological uptake, and adsorption/leaching of co-contaminants. As most plastic pollution originates in urban environments, studies of urban watersheds with high population density and industrial activity are especially relevant. This work uses quantum cascade laser-based infrared imaging to assess MP contamination in freshwater and urban watershed systems. In addition, methods are explored to detect NPs in environmental samples.