Methodology optimization to quantify microplastic presence in planktonic copepods, chaetognaths and fish larvae

• Type: Article in International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2023

Authors

Rodrigues, SM (Author) Other; Espincho, F (Author) Other; Elliott, M (Author) Other; Marisa M R Almeida (Author) FCUP; Ramos, S (Author) Other

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: METHODSX

ISSN: 2215-0161

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 0 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00Z-E4X

DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2023.102466

Abstract (EN): Two of the groups most impacted by microplastics (MPs) are zooplankton and fish larvae, either through MPs ingestion or absorption. Although there has been an increase of studies focusing on MPs ingestion by these organisms, there is still no standardized methodology for the quantification of MPs present in plankton. For example, some reagents normally used to digest plankton and recover MPs appear adversely to affect some plastic characteristics. This can potentially lead to underestimating the amount and types of MPs present in the organisms analyzed. Hence, this work aimed to optimize a methodology to quantify MPs present in plankton, namely zooplankton and fish larvae, and ensuring MPs integrity. Hence, the planktonic organism tissues were digested using 30% (v/v) H2O2 solution at different temperatures and incubation periods while preserving the integrity and polymer characteristics of 13 types of MPs. MPs' characteristics were register before and after the tests, by visual inspection and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis, to evaluate the integrity and features of MPs. With this methodology, MPs recovery was above 85% for all types of plastic tested. The proposed methodology is a rapid protocol, with a maximum of 7 h of incubation, that ensures simultaneously the full digestion of the organism tissues and the complete preservation of all the plastic characteristics, namely color, size and polymer type. center dot A methodology was optimized to quantify microplastics present in zooplankton (copepods, chaetognaths and fish larvae). center dot Thirteen types of microplastics (fibers and fragments of different polymers) were used to test the efficiency of the methodology ensuring the maintenance of the integrity of plastics. center dot With this methodology, microplastic recovery was above 85% for all the types of microplastic tested and no changes in their characteristics were observed.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 11