An easy method for processing and identification of natural and synthetic microfibers and microplastics in indoor and outdoor air

Joana C Prata; Joana L Castro; João P da Costa; Armando C Duarte; Mário Cerqueira; Teresa Rocha-Santos

doi:10.1016/j.mex.2019.11.032

An easy method for processing and identification of natural and synthetic microfibers and microplastics in indoor and outdoor air

MethodsX. 2019 Dec 4:7:1-9. doi: 10.1016/j.mex.2019.11.032. eCollection 2020.

Authors

Joana C Prata¹, Joana L Castro^{1

2}, João P da Costa¹, Armando C Duarte¹, Mário Cerqueira², Teresa Rocha-Santos¹

Affiliations

¹ Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.
² Centre for Environmental and Marine Studies (CESAM) & Department of Environment and Planning, University of Aveiro, 3810-193 Aveiro, Portugal.

Abstract

Microplastics and microfibers can contaminate every matrix, including in the atmosphere, thus leading to incidental inhalation. However, concentrations of airborne synthetic particle in indoor and outdoor environments are not well understood due to the complexities of sampling, sample processing and identification. This work aims at producing a simple protocol to determine the concentrations of airborne microplastics and fibers. This is accomplished by removing organic matter using hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), followed by removal of mineral matter by density separation with sodium iodide (NaI). Finally, identification of fibers into synthetic or natural under the stereomicroscope can be achieved following a diagram produced by systematically observing the most common textile fibers. This method produces a recovery rate of 94.4 % for spiked samples and has been proven suitable for environmental samples. •Fibers and microplastics in air are easier to identify after carbonaceous matter removal;•No loss of microfiber is expected from the solutions used;•Recovery rates of spiked samples is 94.4 %.

Keywords: Atmospheric contamination; Method for sampling microfibers and microplastics in air; Natural textile fibers; Particulate matter; Synthetic textile fibers.