Detection of metal-doped fluorescent PVC microplastics in freshwater mussels

The large-scale production of plastic and resulting release of waste leads to a huge environmental accumulation of micro sizes particles that could have an impact on aquatic organisms and humans. Despite the extensive literature on the subject, there is still a lack of harmonization of methodologies for the collection and analysis of microplastics (MPs) in complex matrices, especially for high density polymers, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), which tend to sink and accumulate in sediments becoming available to benthonic organisms. In this article, mussels are chosen as model for microplastic accumulation, due to their extensive filtering activity and their wide distribution in both fresh and salt water basins. To facilitate the identification and quantification of microplastics taken up by mussels, novel fluorescent and metal-doped PVC microplastics (PVC-PtOEP MPs, size ca. 1-150 µm) have been synthesized and characterized. Following exposure, an enzymatic protocol using amylase, lipase, papain and SDS for organic materials digestion and a sucrose-ZnCl2 density gradient for the selective separation of ingested microplastics has been developed. The identification of MPs was performed by fluorescence microscopy. This work can give a breakthrough to the scientific community in the detection of representative labelled high density MPs in complex matrices.

FACCHETTI Samantha;  LA SPINA Rita;  FUMAGALLI Francesco;  RICCARDI Nicoletta;  GILLILAND Douglas;  PONTI Jessica; 

2021-02-12

MDPI

JRC121273

2079-4991 (online),   

https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC121273,   

10.3390/nano10122363 (online),