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A Novel Strategy to Directly Quantify Polyethylene Microplastics in PM 2.5 Based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry.
- Source :
-
Analytical chemistry [Anal Chem] 2023 Feb 21; Vol. 95 (7), pp. 3556-3562. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Feb 09. - Publication Year :
- 2023
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Abstract
- The broad application of plastic products has resulted in a considerable release of microplastics (MPs) into the ecosystem. While MPs in other environmental matrices (e.g., soil and water) have been studied for a long time, the atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> )-bound MPs are rarely investigated due to the lack of an appropriate analytical approach. The prevalently used visual and spectroscopic means (e.g., optical microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy) suffer from obvious drawbacks that cannot precisely detect MPs of tiny sizes and provide quantitative information. In the present study, a novel strategy that does not require sample pretreatment was developed to first effectuate accurate quantification of polyethylene MP (PE-MP) in PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> based on pyrolysis-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC-MS/MS). It featured acceptable recoveries (97%-110%), high sensitivity (LOD = 1 pg), and qualified precisions (RSD of 3%-13%). Employing this approach, for the first time, exact atmospheric concentrations of PE-MPs in PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> from megacities in North (Zhengzhou and Taiyuan) and South (Guangzhou) China were obtained, and relatively serious pollution was found in Taiyuan. The 100% sample detection rates also suggested the widespread occurrence and possible human exposure risks of PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> -bound PE-MPs. In brief, the new strategy could conduct direct, sensitive, and accurate quantification of PE-MP in PM <subscript>2.5</subscript> , favoring further studies of environmental fates, distributions, and toxicities of atmospheric MPs.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1520-6882
- Volume :
- 95
- Issue :
- 7
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Analytical chemistry
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 36757384
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05477