Exploration of SEM and Raman Analytical Techniques to Determine Microplastic Incorporation in Foraminifera

Summary

Researchers used scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy to investigate whether foraminifera — single-celled marine organisms that build shells from ambient particles — incorporate microplastics into their agglutinated shells as a proxy for environmental contamination. Foraminifera that incorporate microplastics provide a novel biological archive for reconstructing historical microplastic contamination in marine sediment records, enabling long-term trend reconstruction.