Comparison of two procedures for microplastics analysis in sediments based on an interlaboratory exercise.

ABSTRACT: Microplastics (MP) are distributed throughout ecosystems and settle into sediments where they may threaten benthic communities; however, methods for quantifying MP in sediments have not been standardized. This study compares two methods for analyzing MP in sediments, including extraction and identification, and provides recommendations for improvement. Two laboratories processed sediment samples using two methods, referred to as "core" and "augmentation", and identified particles with visual microscopy and spectroscopy. Using visual microscopy, the augmentation method yielded mean recoveries (78%) significantly greater than the core (47%) (p = 0.03), likely due to the use of separatory funnels in the former. Spectroscopic recovery of particles was lower at 42 and 54% for the core and augme

SUBMITTER: Langknecht T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9839611 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature