Reference materials (RMs) are vital tools in the validation of methods used to detect environmental pollutants. Microplastics, a relatively new environmental pollutant, require a variety of complex approaches to address their presence in environmental samples. Both interlaboratory comparison (ILC) studies and RMs are essential to support the validation of methods used in microplastic analysis. Presented here are results of quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) performed on two types of candidate microplastic RMs: dissolvable gelatin capsules and soda tablets. These RMs have been used to support numerous international ILC studies in recent years (2019–2022). Dissolvable capsules containing polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene (PE), and polystyrene (PS), in different size fractions from 50 to 1000 µm, were produced for one ILC study, obtaining relative standard deviation (RSD) from 0 to 24%. The larger size fraction allowed for manual addition of particles to the capsules, yielding 0% error and 100% recovery during QA/QC. Dissolvable capsules were replaced by soda tablets in subsequent ILC studies and recovery test exercises because they were found to be a more reliable carrier for microplastic RMs. Batches of soda tablets were produced containing different single and multiple polymer mixtures, i.e., PE, PET, PS, PVC, polypropylene (PP), and polycarbonate (PC), with RSD ranging from 8 to 21%. Lastly, soda tablets consisting of a mixture of PE, PVC, and PS (125–355 µm) were produced and used for recovery testing during pretreatment of environmental samples. These had an RSD of 9%. Results showed that soda tablets and capsules containing microplastics >50 µm could be produced with sufficient precision for internal recovery tests and external ILC studies. Further work is required to optimize this method for smaller microplastics (< 50 µm) because variation was found to be too large during QA/QC. Nevertheless, this approach represents a valuable solution addressing many of the challenges associated with validating microplastic analytical methods.
", "funding": [ { "award": { "acronym": "EUROqCHARM", "id": "00k4n6c32::101003805", "identifiers": [ { "identifier": "https://cordis.europa.eu/projects/101003805", "scheme": "url" } ], "number": "101003805", "program": "H2020-EU.3.5.", "title": { "en": "EUROpean quality Controlled Harmonization Assuring Reproducible Monitoring and assessment of plastic pollution" } }, "funder": { "id": "00k4n6c32", "name": "European Commission" } } ], "publication_date": "2023-03-22", "publisher": "Zenodo", "resource_type": { "id": "publication-article", "title": { "de": "Zeitschriftenartikel", "en": "Journal article" } }, "rights": [ { "description": { "en": "The Creative Commons Attribution license allows re-distribution and re-use of a licensed work on the condition that the creator is appropriately credited." }, "icon": "cc-by-icon", "id": "cc-by-4.0", "props": { "scheme": "spdx", "url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode" }, "title": { "en": "Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International" } } ], "subjects": [ { "subject": "Microplastic reference material" }, { "subject": "Comparability" }, { "subject": "Comparison" }, { "subject": "Interlaboratory comparison study" }, { "subject": "Soda tablets" }, { "subject": "Soda capsules" } ], "title": "Innovative reference materials for method validation in microplastic analysis including interlaboratory comparison exercises" }, "parent": { "access": { "owned_by": { "user": "617587" } }, "communities": { "default": "3265cf79-a9c7-4d04-b402-6b774d4c0069", "entries": [ { "access": { "member_policy": "open", "members_visibility": "public", "record_submission_policy": "open", "review_policy": "open", "visibility": "public" }, "children": { "allow": false }, "created": "2021-03-02T11:39:31.314790+00:00", "custom_fields": {}, "deletion_status": { "is_deleted": false, "status": "P" }, "id": "3265cf79-a9c7-4d04-b402-6b774d4c0069", "links": {}, "metadata": { "curation_policy": "Contributions related to harmonization and standardization of plastic pollution assessment and monitoring methods from the European and global community are welcomed.
\r\n\r\nThe outputs resulting from EUROqCHARM will be published assigning a DOI and following the distribution policy agreed with the author/publisher.
\r\n\r\nIn both cases inputs will undergo the curation process checking their readiness and relevance. The use of personal ORCID is strongly encouraged.
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Developing harmonised methods for measuring the presence of plastic, incl. microplastics, in nature is important to ensure that environmental policy is sufficiently targeted and give us the ability to adjust measures as needed. At the European level this is important for the implementation of EU directives which include requirements for measurable reduction of plastics and microplastics in the environment.
\r\n\r\nThis Zenodo community, curated by EUROqCHARM, an EU Horizon 2020 project, is set up as a platform for exchange of information and coordination of efforts around methodological harmonization and standardization.
\r\n\r\nEUROqCHARM Objectives
\r\nThe overall objective of EUROqCHARM is to develop optimised, validated and harmonised methods for monitoring and assessment of plastics in the environment, as well as blueprints for standards and recommendations for policy and legislation.
EUROqCHARM will co-develop these methods and recommendations using a multi-stakeholder approach, whereby the project is structured to bring together relevant stakeholders to enable cooperation and participation in the dialogue, decision making and implementation of solutions. This step is critical, as the necessary developments require the engagement and collaboration of researchers and various stakeholders with a thorough understanding of the complexity arising from the wide array of polymer types and particle sizes dispersed in different environmental matrices. To this end, the EUROqCHARM partners, advisory board members and associated stakeholders include all relevant research areas (natural sciences: marine, surface, groundwater, drinking and waste water, soil, air; analytical chemistry etc.), industry (instrument manufacturers, plastic producers and commercial laboratories), regulators – United Nations (UN), EU and national level, standardisation bodies – European Committee for Standardisation (CEN) and International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO), professional associations and societies - e.g., Society of Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry (SETAC), policy makers (UN, EU and national level) and national and international Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs). This sets EUROqCHARM in a unique position to coordinate the validation of the available methods and production of harmonised protocols for assessing plastic contamination that are also accessible to less-developed countries.
\r\n\r\nMore specifically, EUROqCHARM’s specific objectives are:
\r\n\r\nThe EU Open Research Repository serves as a repository for research outputs (data, software, posters, presentations, publications, etc) which have been funded under an EU research funding programme such as Horizon Europe, Euratom or earlier Framework Programmes.
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\nThe mission of the repository is to support the implementation of the EU's open science policy, providing a trusted and comprehensive space for researchers to share their research outputs such as data, software, reports, presentations, posters and more. The EU Open Research Repository simplifies the process of complying with open science requirements, ensuring that research outputs from Horizon Europe, Euratom, and earlier Framework Programmes are freely accessible, thereby accelerating scientific discovery and innovation.
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