A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters
Assessment methods on data quality and environmental variability are lacking for microplastics (MP). Here we assess occurrence and variability of MP number concentrations in two Dutch rivers. Strict QA/QC procedures were applied to identify MP using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy followed by state of the art automated image analysis. For a series of randomly selected, yet ever smaller subareas of filters, we assessed how accurately MP numbers and polymer types are represented during partial filter analysis. Levels of uncertainty were acceptable when analysing 50% of a filter during chemical mapping, and when identifying at least a subset of 50 individual particles with attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR. Applying these guidelines, MP number concentrations between 67 and 11532 MP m−3 were detected in Dutch riverine surface waters. Spatial differences caused MP number concentrations to vary by two orders of magnitude. Temporal differences were lower and induced a maximum variation of one order of magnitude. In total, 26 polymer types were identified, the most common were polyethylene (23%), polypropylene (19.7%) and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (18.3%). The highest diversity of polymer types was found for small MPs, whereas MP larger than 1 mm was scarce and almost exclusively made of polyethylene or polypropylene. Virtually all sampling locations revealed MP number concentrations that are considerably below known effect thresholds for anticipated adverse ecological effects.
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| Format: | Article/Letter to editor biblioteca |
| Language: | English |
| Subjects: | Automated image analysis, FTIR microscopy, Freshwater, Microplastics, Spatial and temporal variability, Water quality, |
| Online Access: | https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/a-systems-approach-to-understand-microplastic-occurrence-and-vari |
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dig-wur-nl-wurpubs-5631172024-10-30 Mintenig, Svenja Kooi, M. Erich, M.W. Primpke, S. Redondo Hasselerharm, P.E. Dekker, S.C. Koelmans, A.A. van Wezel, A.P. Article/Letter to editor Water Research 176 (2020) ISSN: 0043-1354 A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters 2020 Assessment methods on data quality and environmental variability are lacking for microplastics (MP). Here we assess occurrence and variability of MP number concentrations in two Dutch rivers. Strict QA/QC procedures were applied to identify MP using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy followed by state of the art automated image analysis. For a series of randomly selected, yet ever smaller subareas of filters, we assessed how accurately MP numbers and polymer types are represented during partial filter analysis. Levels of uncertainty were acceptable when analysing 50% of a filter during chemical mapping, and when identifying at least a subset of 50 individual particles with attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR. Applying these guidelines, MP number concentrations between 67 and 11532 MP m−3 were detected in Dutch riverine surface waters. Spatial differences caused MP number concentrations to vary by two orders of magnitude. Temporal differences were lower and induced a maximum variation of one order of magnitude. In total, 26 polymer types were identified, the most common were polyethylene (23%), polypropylene (19.7%) and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (18.3%). The highest diversity of polymer types was found for small MPs, whereas MP larger than 1 mm was scarce and almost exclusively made of polyethylene or polypropylene. Virtually all sampling locations revealed MP number concentrations that are considerably below known effect thresholds for anticipated adverse ecological effects. en application/pdf https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/a-systems-approach-to-understand-microplastic-occurrence-and-vari 10.1016/j.watres.2020.115723 https://edepot.wur.nl/518971 Automated image analysis FTIR microscopy Freshwater Microplastics Spatial and temporal variability Water quality https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Wageningen University & Research |
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Automated image analysis FTIR microscopy Freshwater Microplastics Spatial and temporal variability Water quality Automated image analysis FTIR microscopy Freshwater Microplastics Spatial and temporal variability Water quality |
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Automated image analysis FTIR microscopy Freshwater Microplastics Spatial and temporal variability Water quality Automated image analysis FTIR microscopy Freshwater Microplastics Spatial and temporal variability Water quality Mintenig, Svenja Kooi, M. Erich, M.W. Primpke, S. Redondo Hasselerharm, P.E. Dekker, S.C. Koelmans, A.A. van Wezel, A.P. A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters |
| description |
Assessment methods on data quality and environmental variability are lacking for microplastics (MP). Here we assess occurrence and variability of MP number concentrations in two Dutch rivers. Strict QA/QC procedures were applied to identify MP using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy followed by state of the art automated image analysis. For a series of randomly selected, yet ever smaller subareas of filters, we assessed how accurately MP numbers and polymer types are represented during partial filter analysis. Levels of uncertainty were acceptable when analysing 50% of a filter during chemical mapping, and when identifying at least a subset of 50 individual particles with attenuated total reflection (ATR)-FTIR. Applying these guidelines, MP number concentrations between 67 and 11532 MP m−3 were detected in Dutch riverine surface waters. Spatial differences caused MP number concentrations to vary by two orders of magnitude. Temporal differences were lower and induced a maximum variation of one order of magnitude. In total, 26 polymer types were identified, the most common were polyethylene (23%), polypropylene (19.7%) and ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (18.3%). The highest diversity of polymer types was found for small MPs, whereas MP larger than 1 mm was scarce and almost exclusively made of polyethylene or polypropylene. Virtually all sampling locations revealed MP number concentrations that are considerably below known effect thresholds for anticipated adverse ecological effects. |
| format |
Article/Letter to editor |
| topic_facet |
Automated image analysis FTIR microscopy Freshwater Microplastics Spatial and temporal variability Water quality |
| author |
Mintenig, Svenja Kooi, M. Erich, M.W. Primpke, S. Redondo Hasselerharm, P.E. Dekker, S.C. Koelmans, A.A. van Wezel, A.P. |
| author_facet |
Mintenig, Svenja Kooi, M. Erich, M.W. Primpke, S. Redondo Hasselerharm, P.E. Dekker, S.C. Koelmans, A.A. van Wezel, A.P. |
| author_sort |
Mintenig, Svenja |
| title |
A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters |
| title_short |
A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters |
| title_full |
A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters |
| title_fullStr |
A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters |
| title_full_unstemmed |
A systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in Dutch riverine surface waters |
| title_sort |
systems approach to understand microplastic occurrence and variability in dutch riverine surface waters |
| url |
https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/a-systems-approach-to-understand-microplastic-occurrence-and-vari |
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