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Analysing microplastics in samples of terrestrial systems
Summary
This methodology paper addresses the analytical challenges of extracting and quantifying microplastics from complex terrestrial samples such as soil, sediment, and biota, reviewing extraction, separation, and identification techniques. Standardized approaches for terrestrial microplastic analysis lag behind aquatic methods, limiting understanding of land-based pollution.
The presence, fate and effects of microplastics (MP) in terrestrial systems are largely unknown. The few existing studies investigated either agricultural or industrial sites. Several techniques were used for analysis, primarly spectroscopic methods such as FTIR or Raman. Sample pretreatments like density separations are common to reduce matrix. A lack of harmonised and standardised sampling instructions for microplastic investigations in the terrestrial area was identified as particular critical, because different studies are barely comparable. The aim of the project is to develop a proposal for a harmonized procedure for sampling, sample preparation and the detection of microplastics in terrestrial matrices for total content determination. By detecting specific degradation products the thermal extraction desorption gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS) allows a direct determination of mass content of MP in environmental samples.