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Inclusion of shape parameters increases the accuracy of 3D models for microplastics mass quantification
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Researchers found that incorporating shape parameters into 3D geometric models significantly improves the accuracy of microplastic mass quantification, providing a more reliable method for measuring microplastic concentrations in environmental samples.
As microplastics may bring about adverse effects on living organisms, it is important to establish more precise quantification approaches to better understand their dynamics. One method to determine the concentration of microplastics is to estimate their mass using three-dimensional (3D) models, but its accuracy is not well known. In this study, we evaluated the shape of the particles and verified the accuracy of a 3D model-based mass estimation using samples from a tidal flat facing Tokyo Bay. The particle shape evaluation suggested that the microplastics were flat and irregular in shape; based on these data, we created two types of models to estimate their mass. As a result, an accuracy of mass estimation by our model was higher than other models that consider the slenderness and flatness of particles. The optimization of mass estimation methods based on 3D models may improve the reliability of microplastic evaluation in monitoring studies.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.