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Considerations Regarding the Use of Fresh Urine in Microplastic and Nanoplastic Analysis vs. Urine Samples That Have Undergone Complex Processing
Summary
Scientists testing urine for tiny plastic particles get wildly different results depending on how they handle the samples—freezing, chemical processing, and long storage times can actually change or destroy the plastic particles before they're even measured. This paper argues that testing fresh urine right away (rather than letting it sit or undergo heavy lab processing) gives a more accurate picture of what's really in our bodies, which matters because unreliable testing methods make it hard to know how much plastic exposure is actually a health concern.
Microplastic and nanoplastic (MNP) detection in human urine has emerged as an area of increasing scientific and public interest. However, reported urinary MNP concentrations vary substantially across the literature due to differences in collection methods, storage conditions, sample digestion protocols, filtration workflows, and analytical instrumentation. Most published urine MNP studies rely on delayed and highly processed laboratory workflows involving refrigeration or freezing, alkaline digestion, filtration, centrifugation, and spectroscopic analysis. These workflows may alter the native biological matrix and introduce variability related to sample aging, oxidation, pH changes, bacterial growth, particle loss, and polymer surface modification. This technical note discusses considerations regarding the use of fresh urine for real-time analysis compared with urine specimens that have undergone prolonged storage and complex laboratory preprocessing. Particular attention is given to matrix fidelity, the potential effects of delayed processing, and the limitations of conventional methods in detecting nanoplastics. The note also discusses the conceptual framework of decentralized, real-time intact-liquid analysis using the EcoExposure™ platform. Importantly, aged urine experiments described herein were utilized as extreme stress-test conditions rather than intended workflow conditions. Fresh or near-fresh urine remains the preferred and intended sample condition for preserving native matrix characteristics and minimizing artifact introduction.