We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Screening for microplastics in sediment, water, marine invertebrates and fish: Method development and microplastic accumulation
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed improved methods for extracting microplastics from biological samples and sediments, using enzymatic digestion that achieved 97% particle recovery without damaging the plastics. When applied to field samples from the North Sea and Swedish coast, they found microplastics in 8 of 9 invertebrate species tested and in 68% of brown trout. Mussel tissue contained roughly a thousand times more microplastic particles per kilogram than surrounding sediment or water.
Measurements of microplastics in biota and abiotic matrices are key elements of exposure and risk assessments for this emerging environmental pollutant. We investigated the abundance of microplastics in field-collected biota, sediment and water. An improved sediment extraction method, based on density separation was developed. For analysis of microplastics in biota we found that an adapted enzymatic digestion protocol using proteinase K performed best, with a 97% recovery of spiked plastic particles and no observed degradation effects on the plastics in subsequent Raman analysis. Field analysis revealed that 8 of 9 tested invertebrate species from the North Sea and 68% of analyzed individuals of brown trout (Salmo trutta) from the Swedish West Coast had microplastics in them. Based on the number of plastic particles per kg d.w. the microplastic concentrations found in mussels were approximately a thousand-fold higher compared to those in sediment and surface water samples from the same location.
More Papers Like This
Experimental development of a new protocol for extraction and characterization of microplastics in fish tissues: First observations in commercial species from Adriatic Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers developed and tested a new protocol for the extraction and characterization of microplastics from environmental samples, optimizing steps for recovery efficiency and polymer identification accuracy.
Effective and easy to use extraction method shows low numbers of microplastics in offshore planktivorous fish from the northern Baltic Sea
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics were found at low levels in planktivorous fish from the northern Baltic Sea using a validated alkaline digestion extraction method. The study demonstrates an efficient, validated protocol for detecting microplastics in fish and provides baseline contamination data for Baltic marine food webs.
Methodology optimization to quantify microplastic presence in planktonic copepods, chaetognaths and fish larvae
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers optimized a hydrogen peroxide digestion method for extracting and counting microplastics from zooplankton and fish larvae while preserving the physical and chemical integrity of the plastic particles, achieving over 85% recovery across 13 plastic types. Having a reliable, standardized method for quantifying microplastics in plankton is essential for accurately assessing how much plastic is entering marine food webs at the base of the food chain.
Development and optimization of a standard method for extraction of microplastics in mussels by enzyme digestion of soft tissues
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers optimized methods for digesting mussel soft tissue and extracting microplastics for analysis, finding that sodium hydroxide and enzymatic digestion both achieved high recoveries (~93%) while acid digestion damaged certain plastic types. The validated method provides a reliable protocol for monitoring microplastic contamination in commercially important bivalves.
Sampling, Isolating and Identifying Microplastics Ingested by Fish and Invertebrates *
AI summary Read the abstract
This methodological review critically evaluated sampling, isolation, and identification techniques for microplastics ingested by fish and invertebrates, identifying common sources of error including contamination during processing, particle loss, and misidentification — and recommending standardized protocols.
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.