title: A comparison of microscopic and spectroscopic identification methods for analysis of microplastics in environmental samples.
abstract: The analysis of microplastics in various environmental samples requires the identification of microplastics from natural materials. The identification technique lacks a standardized protocol. Herein, stereomicroscope and Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FT-IR) identification methods for microplastics (<1mm) were compared using the same samples from the sea surface microlayer (SML) and beach sand. Fragmented microplastics were significantly (p<0.05) underestimated and fiber was significantly overestimated using the stereomicroscope both in the SML and beach samples. The total abundance by FT-IR was higher than by microscope both in the SML and beach samples, but they were not significantly (p>0.05) different. Depending on the number of samples and the microplastic size range of interest, the appropriate identification method should be determined; selecting a suitable identification method for microplastics is crucial for evaluating microplastic pollution.
authors: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea; Marine Environmental Chemistry and Biology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, South Korea.
authors: Young Kyoung
authors: YK
authors: Song
authors: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea; Marine Environmental Chemistry and Biology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, South Korea.
authors: Sang Hee
authors: SH
authors: Hong
authors: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea; Marine Environmental Chemistry and Biology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, South Korea.
authors: Mi
authors: M
authors: Jang
authors: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea.
authors: Gi Myung
authors: GM
authors: Han
authors: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea.
authors: Manviri
authors: M
authors: Rani
authors: Korea Marine Litter Institute, Our Sea of East Asia Network, Tong Yeong 650-826, South Korea.
authors: Jongmyoung
authors: J
authors: Lee
authors: Oil and POPs Research Group, Korea Institute of Ocean Science and Technology, Geoje-shi 656-834, South Korea; Marine Environmental Chemistry and Biology, University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-320, South Korea. Electronic address: wjshim@kiost.ac.
authors: Won Joon
authors: WJ
authors: Shim
mesh_terms: D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D012623:Seawater / Q000737:chemistry; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: FT-IR microscope; Identification; Microplastics; Stereomicroscope