Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Extraction and Analysis of Microplastic Beads from Personal Care Products

Researchers extracted and characterized polyethylene microbeads from personal care products using hydrogen peroxide/nitric acid digestion followed by FTIR spectroscopy and stereomicroscopy, confirming that three of six facial cleansers tested contained microplastic beads not removed by wastewater treatment, highlighting a direct consumer product pathway to aquatic microplastic pollution.

2022 Current Analytical Chemistry 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics detection in some cosmetic samples by accelerated solvent extraction and Micro-FTIR

Researchers developed an analytical method using accelerated solvent extraction and micro-FTIR to detect microplastic beads and fragments in cosmetic products such as creams. The method was designed for a detection threshold of 0.025% by weight and achieved reliable recovery rates using both gravimetric and spectroscopic analysis. The study addresses the growing regulatory need for standardized methods to identify both intentionally added and unintentionally released microplastics in consumer products.

2024 Talanta 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigating Microplastic Presence in Eye Drops Using Micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy

Using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, researchers detected microplastic particles ≥20 μm in commercial eye drops, finding evidence of plastic contamination in ophthalmic products and recommending further investigation into packaging sources.

2025 Cornea 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A Comparison of Different Approaches for Characterizing Microplastics in Selected Personal Care Products

Researchers compared particle size analysis, light microscopy, and imaging flow cytometry combined with micro-FTIR spectroscopy for characterizing microplastics in personal care products, finding that methodology choice significantly affects quantification results and highlighting the need for standardized approaches.

2021 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Study on primary microplastics in cosmetics: their isolation, spectral and thermal analysis

Researchers analyzed eight personal care and cosmetic products to isolate and characterize intentionally added microplastics. They found that the standard combination of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy was not always sufficient for accurate detection, and that thermal analysis via DSC proved particularly useful for identifying microplastics when spectroscopic methods fell short.

2025 Analytical Methods 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Contributions of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy in microplastic pollution research: A review

This review covers advances in Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques — including chemical imaging — for identifying polymer types in microplastic samples and tracing their fate in different environmental matrices.

2020 Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology 480 citations
Article Tier 2

Applications of Fourier Transform-Infrared spectroscopy in microbial cell biology and environmental microbiology: advances, challenges, and future perspectives

This review covers how Fourier Transform-Infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy is used in microbiology to identify microorganisms, study biofilms, and monitor environmental interactions. While not directly about microplastics, FT-IR is one of the primary tools scientists use to identify and measure microplastic contamination in environmental samples. The review discusses challenges and future directions that could improve microplastic detection accuracy.

2023 Frontiers in Microbiology 171 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of Microplastics in Synthetic Fibers Through FT-IR Microscope

This study used FTIR microscopy to identify and characterize microplastics derived from synthetic textile fibers in environmental samples. Synthetic fiber microplastics are among the most common types found in the ocean, and FTIR analysis is essential for confirming their identity and polymer composition.

2020 Journal of Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
Article Tier 2

A novel method for purification, quantitative analysis and characterization of microplastic fibers using Micro-FTIR

Researchers developed an improved method for purifying, quantifying, and characterizing microplastic fibers using micro-FTIR spectroscopy, addressing the challenge that fibers are harder to process and identify than other microplastic shapes. The method improvements enable more accurate characterization of this common but technically challenging category of environmental microplastics.

2019 Chemosphere 191 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in cosmetics and their impact on human health

Researchers reviewed 14 studies on microplastics in cosmetics and personal care products, finding polyethylene is the most common microplastic in facial scrubs, body washes, and toothpaste, with exposure occurring mainly through skin contact and ingestion. Despite growing awareness, major gaps remain in understanding the long-term health effects and environmental persistence of these cosmetic microplastics.

2025 Discover Applied Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Harmonizing infrared spectroscopic techniques for microplastic identification: a comparative evaluation of ATR and µFTIR transmission and reflection modes

Researchers systematically compared the performance of Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) and micro-Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (muFTIR) in both transmission and reflection modes for identifying microplastics from twelve common real-world plastic products, providing guidance on optimizing spectroscopic technique selection.

2025
Article Tier 2

Analytical tools in advancing microplastics research for identification and quantification across environmental media: from sample to insight

Researchers reviewed the analytical tools most commonly used for identifying and quantifying microplastics, focusing on FTIR and Raman spectroscopy as the two primary methods. The review compared their strengths and limitations and provided guidance for choosing between them based on particle size, sample matrix, and research objectives.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics monitoring in different environments: separation, physicochemical characterization, and quantification

Researchers systematically monitored microplastic contamination across multiple environments including a wastewater treatment plant, surrounding water bodies, and soils near plastic factories, characterizing shape, size, color, and polymer composition via microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy. They found fragments and fibers to be the most common microplastic shapes in water environments and documented simultaneous contamination across all sampled matrices.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

FT-IR Microscope를 이용한 합성섬유의 미세플라스틱 분석

South Korean researchers used FT-IR microscopy to analyze microplastic shedding from polyester fibers during washing with different types of detergents. The study confirmed that synthetic fibers are a major source of microplastic pollution and found that detergent type affects the amount of microplastics released during laundry.

2020
Article Tier 2

Plasma, UV radiation and ozone for microplastics degradation: Optical characterization of polystyrene, polyethylene and polypropylene degradation using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy

Researchers investigated the degradation of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene microplastics under three treatment conditions — ozone, UV radiation, and plasma — using FTIR and Raman spectroscopy to characterize structural and optical changes. The study found that all three treatments induced measurable polymer degradation, with spectral analysis revealing distinct chemical modifications depending on treatment type and polymer composition.

2025 Science of Sintering
Article Tier 2

Physical-chemical characterization of microplastics present in some exfoliating products from Spain

Researchers physically and chemically characterised microplastics from ten personal care exfoliating products marketed in Spain, finding polyethylene microspheres in concentrations between 6-7% of total product weight in some cases. Smaller particles generally appeared at higher concentrations, highlighting these products as a direct source of microplastic pollution entering waterways.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic content of over-the-counter toothpastes from India: an in-vitro study

Researchers analyzed 20 popular over-the-counter toothpastes from the Indian market and found microplastic compounds present in all samples. Using infrared spectroscopy, they identified polyamides, polyethylene, and polypropylene across all tested brands, highlighting a potential daily exposure route to microplastics through routine oral hygiene products.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Health Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Stereomicroscopic and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopic Characterization of the Abundance, Distribution and Composition of Microplastics in the Beaches of Qingdao, China

Microplastics were found on two beaches in Qingdao, China at varying concentrations, with fibers as the most common type. The study used FTIR spectroscopy to identify polymer types including polyester and polypropylene, contributing to the global picture of beach microplastic contamination.

2020 Analytical Letters 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Optimizing microplastic analysis through comparative FTIR and raman spectroscopy: Addressing challenges in environmental degradation studies

This study optimized microplastic analysis by comparing FTIR and Raman spectroscopy approaches for identifying degraded polymer particles in environmental samples where photooxidation and mechanical fragmentation have altered spectral signatures. A combined spectroscopy approach outperformed either technique alone for accurately identifying degraded microplastics in complex environmental matrices.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Recognition and detection technology for microplastic, its source and health effects

This review summarizes current knowledge about detecting microplastics and their effects on human health, covering methods like FTIR spectroscopy and Raman imaging. The authors highlight that micro- and nanoplastics can cause a range of health problems including oxidative stress, reduced reproductive ability, inflammation, and damage to the circulatory and respiratory systems. The review emphasizes the urgent need for better detection methods so that researchers and regulators can accurately assess how much microplastic people are actually exposed to.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastiche: classificazione, identificazione e rimozione all'interno degli impianti di trattamento delle acque reflue

This Italian-language paper reviews how microplastics are classified, identified using techniques like FTIR spectroscopy, and removed in wastewater treatment plants. Conventional treatment plants remove a substantial portion of microplastics but still allow many particles to pass through into the environment. The review calls for better treatment technologies and standardized methods to assess microplastic removal efficiency.

2021 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics/microfibers in settled indoor house dust—exploratory case study for 10 residential houses in the Kanto area of Japan

Researchers conducted the first survey of indoor microplastics in settled house dust from Japanese homes, finding large quantities of cellulose, PET, polyethylene, and other polymer particles using complementary FTIR and laser infrared analysis methods.

2022 Japan Architectural Review 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Potential Health Risk of Microplastic Exposures from Skin-Cleansing Products

Researchers analyzed popular skin-cleansing products including liquid soap, micellar water, and cleansing oil, and found microplastics present in all of them. The particles varied in size and type, with potential exposure through skin absorption, accidental ingestion, and inhalation during use. This study identifies everyday personal care products as a source of microplastic exposure that most people would not suspect.

2025 Toxics 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in swimming pool water

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in swimming pool water from both a water park and a private garden pool, finding various microplastic particles released from pool equipment, swimwear, and cosmetics. Quantitative and qualitative analysis using microscopy and FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the presence of multiple microplastic types. The study highlights swimming pools as an underrecognized source of human microplastic exposure that warrants further investigation.

2025 Desalination and Water Treatment 1 citations