Speaker
Descrizione
The widespread occurrence of microplastics (MPs), commonly defined as solid plastic particles ranging from 1 µm to 5 mm in size and composed of a mixture of polymeric materials and functional additives, has raised increasing concern regarding their potential environmental and human health impacts. Although MPs have been extensively investigated in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, the atmospheric compartment remains comparatively underexplored, particularly in indoor environments (e.g., homes, workplaces, schools, hospitals, and public buildings), where individuals spend up to 90% of their time and are continuously exposed through inhalation [1].
In this context, this research, initiated within the INAIL BRiC 2022 ID-14 project “Characterization of Emissions in Workplaces of Airborne Microplastics and Nanoplastics” (CELLOPHAN), aims to develop and validate an integrated multi-analytical and correlative workflow for the characterization of airborne MPs in indoor environments, addressing the challenges associated with the complexity of the environmental matrix and the current lack of standardized operational protocols (SOPs) for sampling, sample pre-treatment, and instrumental analysis, thereby limiting study comparability [1].
A key aspect of the analytical workflow is sample pre-treatment, which must efficiently isolate MPs while minimizing interference from co-occurring particulate matter. An oil-extraction protocol was investigated as a rapid, versatile, and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional density separation methods.
For comprehensive characterization, a multi-technique analytical strategy was implemented, combining field emission scanning electron microscopy coupled with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FE-SEM-EDS) for morphological and elemental analysis with spectroscopic micro-FTIR and micro-Raman techniques for chemical identification. To further improve analytical reliability, a correlative spectroscopic approach was developed through the implementation of a custom-designed 3D-printed holder, enabling coordinate-based tracking and sequential analysis of the same particle using different spectroscopic techniques. This integrated strategy provides complementary chemical information, facilitates the identification of polymer composition and associated additives, and improves the robustness of characterization method. Moreover, the optimized pre-treatment minimizes several limitations commonly affecting spectroscopic analyses, including contaminant contributions and fluorescence effects, resulting in improved spectral quality for more accurate data interpretation.
Future perspectives will focus on extending the workflow to the targeted characterization of plastic additives, optimizing analytical methodologies for the detection and identification of nanoplastics, and broadening the application of the correlative multi-analytical approach to other matrices and analytical contexts.
Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of the proposed integrated workflow to improve the reliability of airborne MP characterization and supports the future development of standardized analytical procedures in this emerging field.
References:
[1] Campanale C., Barlucchi, L., et al. Airborne Microplastics in indoor environments: current knowledge, methodological challenges, and future directions. Building and Environment. 2026; 297:114567. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2026.114567.
| Giovane Ricercatore (under 40) | Yes |
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