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Comparing Sampling Methods for Measuring Atmospheric Microplastics in Rural and Urban Sites, using Laser Direct Infrared Spectroscopy (LDIR)
Summary
Researchers deployed three atmospheric microplastic sampling methods — active-air sampling, bulk deposition, and wet deposition — simultaneously at urban and rural sites in the UK between February 2022 and February 2023, analyzing samples with laser direct infrared spectroscopy (LDIR). Results showed higher particle counts and polymer diversity at the urban site, while no statistically significant differences were found between sampling methods at either location.
In recent years, there have been growing concerns regarding atmospheric-related microplastics and anthropogenically sourced particles. Atmospheric transport disperses these particles quickly and worldwide, deposition being an important source to terrestrial and ocean surfaces. Traditional air sampling methods were deployed and compared during this study, to investigate atmospheric-related microplastics and anthropogenically sourced particles using; active-air, bulk deposition, and wet deposition. Samples were deployed in a densely populated urban centre and at a rural site, between February 2022 and February 2023. Number of particles and diversity of polymer type and morphology were higher at the urban site. There was no statistical difference between the sampling methods used at either site. This implies the simple bulk deposition samplers can be confidently used to determine abundance and the diversity in polymer types and morphology in ambient air. The dominant polymer types at both sites were polyester, polypropylene, and anthropogenic cellulose (e.g., denim, cellulose acetate, etc.).