biostudies-literatureXiao MNanjing Institute of TechnologyNIEHS NIH HHSFoundation for the National Institutes of HealthNational Institutes of HealthHerbert W Hoover FoundationNational Science Foundation Division of ChemistryNIGMS NIH HHSNational Science Foundation138322https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC12396735biostudies-literatureUnknown493Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are pervasive pollutants and their analyses by traditional mass spectrometric methods require time-intensive sample preparation (e.g., extraction, digestion, and separation). This study presents a rapid and novel method for detecting MPs and NPs using flame ionization mass spectrometry (FI-MS) in which a dried sample (e.g., powder, soil and tissue) is directly burnt or heated with a flame in front of the MS inlet. FI-MS enables decomposition and ionization of various plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS), allowing for analysis to be completed as fast as 10 seconds per sample. As a demonstration of application of this technique, PET contaminants in 1 L of bottled water or in 0.65 L of apple juice contained in plastiJournal of hazardous materialsRapid detection of microplastics and nanoplastics in seconds by mass spectrometry.PMC12396735CHE-2203284R21 GM148874R01 ES031285T32 ES007148P30 ES005022R21GM148874-01Liu JXiao MYang YStapleton PAAlahmadi HMoreno GMHarbolic AYu TWarner GRChen HGuo AfalseRapid detection of microplastics and nanoplastics in seconds by mass spectrometry.Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are pervasive pollutants and their analyses by traditional mass spectrometric methods require time-intensive sample preparation (e.g., extraction, digestion, and separation). This study presents a rapid and novel method for detecting MPs and NPs using flame ionization mass spectrometry (FI-MS) in which a dried sample (e.g., powder, soil and tissue) is directly burnt or heated with a flame in front of the MS inlet. FI-MS enables decomposition and ionization of various plastics such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polystyrene (PS), allowing for analysis to be completed as fast as 10 seconds per sample. As a demonstration of application of this technique, PET contaminants in 1 L of bottled water or in 0.65 L of apple juice contained in plasti2025-01-01T00:00:00Z2025 Aug2026-05-28T04:12:18.455Z2026-04-08T02:14:48.856ZS-EPMC123967354025378210.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.138322