How to Control the Airborne Contamination in Laboratory Analyses of Microplastics?

HIGHLIGHTS

• The contamination of blanks by airborne fibers in the lab was investigated.

• Microfibers could be overestimated in fish’s gastrointestinal tract and surface water.

• We tested and approved an Airborne Contamination Control Protocol (ACC Protocol).

Abstract:

Numerous studies have quantified microplastics in biological and environmental samples in recent years, but contamination by airborne microplastic particles during laboratory analysis remains an unsettling possibility. We designed and tested a protocol to minimize airborne contamination during the screening of samples in laboratory conditions in order to increase the level of certainty that microplastics counted really comes from samples. Despite the care and default measures in laboratory routine, some airborne contamination in blanks was found (3.8%) at the beginning of sample screenings. After introducing more stringent procedures on our airborne contamination control protocol (ACC Protocol), a highly significant (p<0.0001) reduction was registered (1.1%). Thus, we prove that the use of a more stringent protocol should be an essential part of future studies quantifying microplastics in any samples. This study concludes that a protocol with simple, low-cost, but stringent measures can reduce airborne microplastic contamination, being applicable to any laboratory setting.

Keywords:
Microfibers; Dust; Quality laboratory control; Methodology; Strict protocol

GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT: