A comparison of microscopic and spectroscopic identification methods for analysis of microplastics in environmental samples

Young Kyoung Song, Sang Hee Hong, Mi Jang, Gi Myung Han, Manviri Rani,
Jongmyoung Lee, Won Joon Shim, A comparison of microscopic and
spectroscopic identification methods for analysis of microplastics in
environmental samples, Marine Pollution Bulletin, Available online 11
February 2015, ISSN 0025-326X,
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.01.015.
(http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0025326X15000314)
Abstract: The analysis of microplastics in various environmental samples
requires the identification of microplastics from natural materials. The
identification technique lacks a standardized protocol. Herein,
stereomicroscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FT-IR)
identification methods for microplastics (<1 mm) were compared using the same samples from the sea surface microlayer (SML) and beach sand. Fragmented microplastics were significantly (p < 0.05) underestimated and fiber was significantly overestimated using the stereomicroscope both in the SML and beach samples. The total abundance by FT-IR was higher than by microscope both in the SML and beach samples, but they were not significantly (p > 0.05) different. Depending on the number of
samples and the microplastic size range of interest, the appropriate
identification method should be determined; selecting a suitable
identification method for microplastics is crucial for evaluating
microplastic pollution.
Keywords: Microplastics; Identification; Stereomicroscope; FT-IR microscope

A comparison of microscopic and spectroscopic identification methods for analysis of microplastics in environmental samples