Mass spectrometry-based techniques for determination of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems

Development and application of a Py-GC/MS method for the quantification of microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments

Current Methodology for Extraction, Separation, Identification, and Quantification of Microplastics in Terrestrial Systems

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Researchers reviewed current laboratory methods for extracting, separating, identifying, and quantifying microplastics in soils and terrestrial systems, noting that the absence of standardized protocols continues to hinder accurate assessment of plastic contamination in land environments.

Microplastics in Terrestrial Ecosystems

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This review assessed microplastic accumulation in terrestrial ecosystems — including agricultural soils, forests, and urban environments — documenting effects on soil structure, earthworm health, plant growth, and microbial diversity driven by decades of dramatic plastic production growth. Because terrestrial environments receive far more microplastic deposition than oceans yet are less studied, the soil contamination documented here directly threatens food production and represents a major underappreciated source of human dietary microplastic exposure through crops and soil-grown produce.

Analytical Methods for Microplastics in Environments: Current Advances and Challenges

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Researchers review the state of the art in analytical methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics across environmental samples, highlighting recent advances alongside persistent technical challenges that limit our ability to accurately assess exposure levels and ecological risk.

Analytical Methods for Plastic (Microplastic) Determination in Environmental Samples

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Significant gaps remain in understanding how microplastics distribute and move through the environment, largely because reliable, fast analytical methods for monitoring them are still lacking. Developing standardized detection techniques is essential for generating the consistent data needed to assess true exposure levels and health risks across different ecosystems.