Facile detection of microplastics from a variety of environmental samples with conjugated polymer nanoparticles

Abstract

Microplastic pollution constitutes a pressing global environmental issue impacting nearly every facet of human activity. This specific environmental challenge exerts profound yet still poorly understood influences on health, social dynamics, and industrial practices. A major obstacle for further investigation and mitigation of microplastics lies in their heterogeneity in size and composition. Additionally, the multitude of sources contributing to microplastic emissions further complicates their study. To enhance current detection and analytical methodologies for microplastics, this study exploits a novel approach for the easy and specific identification of microplastics within diverse environmental samples (including air, soil, lake water, rain, snow, and marine sediment) collected from various geographical locations across Canada. This method relies on fluorescent conjugated polymer nanoparticles that can be used to identify microplastics after minimal preparation. In all examined samples, originating from diverse sources and environments, microplastics were consistently present in the form of fragments and/or fibers, with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) emerging as the most abundant type, as confirmed via Raman spectroscopy either before or after labeling. This approach significantly streamlines the microplastic identification process, reducing the time needed for extraction and isolation. Our findings corroborate the efficacy of nanoparticle labeling for microplastic detection, offering promising avenues for their facile, specific, and reliable identification. Ultimately, this novel procedure holds potential to enhance remediation efforts targeting microplastics in the environment, thereby advancing our understanding of their global impact.