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Cited by 280Microplastics and Plastic PollutionAnalytical chemistry methods developmentEnvironmental and Analytical Chemistry Studies

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 117 of the 118 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Analysis of microplastics in drinking water and other clean water samples with micro-Raman and micro-infrared spectroscopy: minimum requirements and best practice guidelines

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Schymanski, Darena, Oßmann, Barbara E., Benismail, Nizar, Boukerma, Kada, Dallmann, Gerald, von der Esch, Elisabeth, Fischer, Dieter, Fischer, Franziska, Gilliland, Douglas, Glas, Karl, Hofmann, Thomas, Käppler, Andrea, Lacorte, Sílvia, Marco, Julie, Rakwe, Maria EL, Weisser, Jana, Witzig, Cordula, Zumbülte, Nicole, Ivleva, Natalia P.·2021·Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
DOI 10.1007/s00216-021-03498-yPMC PMC8440246
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Abstract

Microplastics are a widespread contaminant found not only in various natural habitats but also in drinking waters. With spectroscopic methods, the polymer type, number, size, and size distribution as well as the shape of microplastic particles in waters can be determined, which is of great relevance to toxicological studies. Methods used in studies so far show a huge diversity regarding experimental setups and often a lack of certain quality assurance aspects. To overcome these problems, this critical review and consensus paper of 12 European analytical laboratories and institutions, dealing with microplastic particle identification and quantification with spectroscopic methods, gives guidance toward harmonized microplastic particle analysis in clean waters. The aims of this paper are to (i) improve the reliability of microplastic analysis, (ii) facilitate and improve the planning of sample preparation and microplastic detection, and (iii) provide a better understanding regarding the evaluation of already existing studies. With these aims, we hope to make an important step toward harmonization of microplastic particle analysis in clean water samples and, thus, allow the comparability of results obtained in different studies by using similar or harmonized methods. Clean water samples, for the purpose of this paper, are considered to comprise all water samples with low matrix content, in particular drinking, tap, and bottled water, but also other water types such as clean freshwater. Graphical abstract

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Crossref · 10.1007/s00216-021-03498-y

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Fig. 1 Important precautions and advice for the analysis of microplastics
Fig. 1 Important precautions and advice for the analysis of microplasticsCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 2 Illustration of the three sub-sampling models and their effects on introduced errors. Left, “cake” model. Slices are selected for measurement. Depending on their location and size, the grouping of particles may affect the results and introduce errors. Middle, “snail” model. A composite sampling strategy based on the selection of multiple small boxes, which should be spread across the filter, so that the edges and middle are represented. Right, random model. Since each fragment is randomly selected, the grouping of particles does not influence their selection. Representativity is only dependant on the number of fragments chosen
Fig. 2 Illustration of the three sub-sampling models and their effects on introduced errors. Left, “cake” model. Slices are selected for measurement. Depending on their location and size, the grouping of particles may affect the results and introduce errors. Middle, “snail” model. A composite sampling strategy based on the selection of multiple small boxes, which should be spread across the filter, so that the edges and middle are represented. Right, random model. Since each fragment is randomly selected, the grouping of particles does not influence their selection. Representativity is only dependant on the number of fragments chosenCC BY · PubMed Central
Fig. 3 Dependence of sample size (n) on margin of error (e = 10%, 20% or 30%; e.g., 10% ± 0.5% MP, 10% ± 1% MP, or 10% ± 1.5% MP, resp.) and total number of fragments (N) for MP contents of 10% (green), 1% (blue), and 0.1% (yellow) for the random model, calculated based on Eq. 1 [87]. Sampling thresholds (n = 2000, 5000, and 7000) are marked in red
Fig. 3 Dependence of sample size (n) on margin of error (e = 10%, 20% or 30%; e.g., 10% ± 0.5% MP, 10% ± 1% MP, or 10% ± 1.5% MP, resp.) and total number of fragments (N) for MP contents of 10% (green), 1% (blue), and 0.1% (yellow) for the random model, calculated based on Eq. 1 [87]. Sampling thresholds (n = 2000, 5000, and 7000) are marked in redCC BY · PubMed Central

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. European Pharmacopoeia. Particulate contamination: sub-visible particles; 1/ Ph. Eur. 2.9.19: reference 01/2005:20919. 5th Edition (official on January 2005).
  2. European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption. Proposal for a Directive of the European Parliament and of the Council on the quality of water intended for human consumption (recast) - Political agreement ST 6060 2020 REV 1, vol. 2020.

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Metadata

Authors
Schymanski, D., Oßmann, B. E., Benismail, N., Boukerma, K., Dallmann, G., von der Esch, E., Fischer, D., Fischer, F., Gilliland, D., Glas, K., Hofmann, T., Käppler, A., Lacorte, S., Marco, J., Rakwe, M. E., Weisser, J., Witzig, C., Zumbülte, N., & Ivleva, N. P.
Affiliations
  • University of Münster (DE)
  • Bayerisches Landesamt für Gesundheit und Lebensmittelsicherheit (DE)
  • Nestlé (France) (FR)
  • Ifremer (FR)
  • Leibniz Institute of Polymer Research (DE)
  • European Commission (BE)
  • Technical University of Munich (DE)
  • DVGW - Technologiezentrum Wasser (DE)
Corresponding author
Ivleva, Natalia P.
ORCID
Venue
Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Published
2021-07-20
Volume
413
Issue
24
Pages
5969-5994
ISSN
  • 1618-2642 (ISSN-L)
  • 1618-2650
DOI
10.1007/s00216-021-03498-y
PMC
PMC8440246
OpenAlex
W3183588047
Cited by
280
References
118
Citations by year
2026: 68 · 2025: 58 · 2024: 71 · 2023: 48 · 2022: 32 · 2021: 3
FWCI
1.87
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
Locations
  • Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (publishedVersion, other-oa)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DIGITAL.CSIC (Spanish National Research Council (CSIC)) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • HAL (submittedVersion)
  • Institutional Archive of Ifremer (French Research Institute for Exploitation of the Sea) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (submittedVersion)
  • mediaTUM – the media and publications repository of the Technical University Munich (Technical University Munich) (submittedVersion, other-oa)
  • RENATE (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • RENATE (cc-by)
Funders
  • Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (PID2019-105732GB-C21)
  • Bayerische Forschungsstiftung (AZ-1258-16 (“MiPAq“))
  • Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung (02WPL1443A “SubµTrack”; 03F0851B “HOTMIC”)
  • Bavarian State Ministry of the Environment and Consumer Protection
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
  • Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Analytical chemistry methods development
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Studies
Keywords
microplastics, drinking water, clean water, micro-Raman spectroscopy, micro-infrared spectroscopy, microplastic quantification, method harmonization, quality assurance, sample preparation, bottled water, tap water, freshwater, polymer types, particle size distribution
MeSH terms
Microplastics, Spectrophotometry, Infrared, Spectrum Analysis, Raman, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Guidelines as Topic, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Drinking Water

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