Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization

L. M. van Mourik; S. Crum; E. Martinez-Frances; B. van Bavel; H. A. Leslie; J. de Boer; W. P. Cofino

doi:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071

Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization

L. M. van Mourik^*, S. Crum, E. Martinez-Frances, B. van Bavel, H. A. Leslie, J. de Boer, W. P. Cofino

^*Corresponding author for this work

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Research output: Contribution to Journal › Article › Academic › peer-review

Abstract

To survey the conformity and quality of results among laboratories for microplastics determination worldwide, an international laboratory intercomparison and development exercise was organized. The 34 participants were requested to determine the polymer type and number or mass of polymer particles in 12 samples, i.e. six samples containing of pre-production pellets, five dissolvable soda tablets containing different (smaller) polymer particles and one blank soda tablet. A novel method for providing the test materials in aluminium strips was used. Thirty laboratories (88%) submitted data using their own method of choice, resulting in a variety of identification and quantification methods (n = 7). The majority of the labs (53–100%) correctly identified the type of polymer in all samples but one. The performance of the laboratories in quantifying and weighing the pellets was very good. The analysis of the number of the particles in the soda tablets varied considerably between laboratories (29–91%). The results of this study highlight the complexity of microplastics analysis and the need for harmonization of both reporting format and methods. Continued development and assessment of the comparability among analytical methods and laboratories are urgently needed to support monitoring programmes, research and decision-making.

Original language	English
Article number	145071
Pages (from-to)	1-8
Number of pages	8
Journal	Science of the Total Environment
Volume	772
Early online date	4 Feb 2021
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071
Publication status	Published - 10 Jun 2021

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
The authors would like to thank all participants for their contribution to the ILS. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Svetlana Pakhomova, Guyu Peng and Rachel Hurley for the production and the QA/QC of the soda tablet samples. NORMAN is acknowledged for distributing invitations to participate in the ILS. This research was partly funded by contributions of the participants, but did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors

Copyright:
Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

Keywords

Analysis
Laboratory comparability
Polymer
Quality assurance (QAQC)
Quality control

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

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van Mourik, L. M., Crum, S., Martinez-Frances, E., van Bavel, B., Leslie, H. A., de Boer, J., & Cofino, W. P. (2021). Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization. Science of the Total Environment, 772, 1-8. Article 145071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071

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note = "Funding Information: The authors would like to thank all participants for their contribution to the ILS. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Svetlana Pakhomova, Guyu Peng and Rachel Hurley for the production and the QA/QC of the soda tablet samples. NORMAN is acknowledged for distributing invitations to participate in the ILS. This research was partly funded by contributions of the participants, but did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2021 The Authors Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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van Mourik, LM, Crum, S, Martinez-Frances, E, van Bavel, B, Leslie, HA, de Boer, J & Cofino, WP 2021, 'Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization', Science of the Total Environment, vol. 772, 145071, pp. 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071

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AU - van Mourik, L. M.

AU - Crum, S.

AU - Martinez-Frances, E.

AU - van Bavel, B.

AU - Leslie, H. A.

AU - de Boer, J.

AU - Cofino, W. P.

N1 - Funding Information: The authors would like to thank all participants for their contribution to the ILS. The authors also gratefully acknowledge Svetlana Pakhomova, Guyu Peng and Rachel Hurley for the production and the QA/QC of the soda tablet samples. NORMAN is acknowledged for distributing invitations to participate in the ILS. This research was partly funded by contributions of the participants, but did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. Publisher Copyright: © 2021 The Authors Copyright: Copyright 2021 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2021/6/10

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N2 - To survey the conformity and quality of results among laboratories for microplastics determination worldwide, an international laboratory intercomparison and development exercise was organized. The 34 participants were requested to determine the polymer type and number or mass of polymer particles in 12 samples, i.e. six samples containing of pre-production pellets, five dissolvable soda tablets containing different (smaller) polymer particles and one blank soda tablet. A novel method for providing the test materials in aluminium strips was used. Thirty laboratories (88%) submitted data using their own method of choice, resulting in a variety of identification and quantification methods (n = 7). The majority of the labs (53–100%) correctly identified the type of polymer in all samples but one. The performance of the laboratories in quantifying and weighing the pellets was very good. The analysis of the number of the particles in the soda tablets varied considerably between laboratories (29–91%). The results of this study highlight the complexity of microplastics analysis and the need for harmonization of both reporting format and methods. Continued development and assessment of the comparability among analytical methods and laboratories are urgently needed to support monitoring programmes, research and decision-making.

AB - To survey the conformity and quality of results among laboratories for microplastics determination worldwide, an international laboratory intercomparison and development exercise was organized. The 34 participants were requested to determine the polymer type and number or mass of polymer particles in 12 samples, i.e. six samples containing of pre-production pellets, five dissolvable soda tablets containing different (smaller) polymer particles and one blank soda tablet. A novel method for providing the test materials in aluminium strips was used. Thirty laboratories (88%) submitted data using their own method of choice, resulting in a variety of identification and quantification methods (n = 7). The majority of the labs (53–100%) correctly identified the type of polymer in all samples but one. The performance of the laboratories in quantifying and weighing the pellets was very good. The analysis of the number of the particles in the soda tablets varied considerably between laboratories (29–91%). The results of this study highlight the complexity of microplastics analysis and the need for harmonization of both reporting format and methods. Continued development and assessment of the comparability among analytical methods and laboratories are urgently needed to support monitoring programmes, research and decision-making.

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KW - Laboratory comparability

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KW - Quality assurance (QAQC)

KW - Quality control

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van Mourik LM, Crum S, Martinez-Frances E, van Bavel B, Leslie HA, de Boer J et al. Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization. Science of the Total Environment. 2021 Jun 10;772:1-8. 145071. Epub 2021 Feb 4. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071, 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145071

Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization

Abstract

Bibliographical note

Keywords

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Persistent URL (handle)

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