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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 for microplastics in urine usually freeze and heavily process samples before analysis, but this study suggests that waiting and processing can actually change the sample itself—things like bacterial growth, chemical breakdown, and particle loss can throw off the results. That means the wide range of microplastic levels reported in past studies may partly reflect differences in lab handling rather than true differences in people's bodies, and testing fresh urine right away may give a more accurate picture. This matters because if we want reliable answers about how much plastic is actually in our bodies, the way samples are collected and tested needs to be standardized and done as close to real-time
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.