Standard Test Method for Identification of Polymer Type and Quantity of Microplastic Particles and Fibers in Waters with High to Low Suspended Solids Using Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry

Summary

This paper describes the development of an ASTM standard test method using pyrolysis–gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to identify and quantify specific polymer types in microplastic particles and fibers across a wide range of water types, from drinking water to marine water. Standardizing how microplastics are measured is a critical step toward producing comparable data across studies and enabling consistent regulatory monitoring. A validated, accepted method like this helps close the large gaps in microplastic data that currently hinder risk assessment and policy-making.