We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
An interlaboratory comparison exercise for the determination of microplastics in standard sample bottles
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted an interlaboratory comparison exercise for microplastic quantification and found substantial variability between laboratories when analyzing identical standard samples containing polypropylene, high- and low-density polyethylene microplastics, highlighting the need for standardized methods.
An interlaboratory comparison exercise was conducted to assess the consistency of microplastic quantification across several laboratories. The test samples were prepared by mixing one liter seawater free of plastics, microplastics made from polypropylene, high- and low-density polyethylene, and artificial particles in two plastic bottles, and analyzed concurrently in 12 experienced laboratories around the world. The minimum requirements to quantify microplastics were examined by comparing actual numbers of microplastics in these sample bottles with numbers measured in each laboratory. The uncertainty was due to pervasive errors derived from inaccuracies in measuring sizes and/or misidentification of microplastics, including both false recognition and overlooking. The size distribution of microplastics should be smoothed using a running mean with a length of >0.5 mm to reduce uncertainty to less than ±20%. The number of microplastics <1 mm was underestimated by 20% even when using the best practice for measuring microplastics in laboratories.
More Papers Like This
Interlaboratory Comparison Reveals State of the Art in Microplastic Detection and Quantification Methods
AI summary Read the abstract
An 84-laboratory interlaboratory comparison tested the accuracy of five established microplastic detection methods using standardized reference materials, revealing significant variability in results across labs and methods. The study highlights that standardization and harmonization of analytical procedures are urgently needed before microplastic measurement can be reliably compared across research groups.
Monitoring microplastics in drinking water: An interlaboratory study to inform effective methods for quantifying and characterizing microplastics
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted an interlaboratory study with 22 labs from six countries to evaluate methods for quantifying microplastics in drinking water, finding significant variability between labs and identifying key areas for method standardization.
Interlaboratory Comparison Reveals State of the Art in Microplastic Detection and Quantification Methods
AI summary Read the abstract
This large international study compared how 84 laboratories around the world performed when identifying and measuring microplastics using five common detection methods. The results showed significant differences between labs, with spectroscopy-based methods generally outperforming heat-based techniques for accuracy. The findings highlight that standardized methods are urgently needed so that microplastic measurements in food, water, and the environment can be reliably compared across studies.
Innovative reference materials for method validation in microplastic analysis including interlaboratory comparison exercises
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed innovative reference materials for validating microplastic analysis methods, presenting interlaboratory comparison results that support quality assurance and standardization in the growing field of microplastic detection.
Microplastic analysis—are we measuring the same? Results on the first global comparative study for microplastic analysis in a water sample
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted the first international comparative study of analytical methods for microplastic analysis in a water sample and found that comparability between methods was highly limited, underscoring the urgent need for standardized protocols in microplastic research.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.