A Novel Strategy to Directly Quantify Polyethylene Microplastics in PM 2.5 Based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography–Tandem Mass Spectrometry

作者：Peiru Luo, Mengke Bai, Qingyun He, Zifang Peng, Lingyun Wang, Chuan Dong, Zenghua Qi, Wenfen Zhang, Yanhao Zhang, Zongwei Cai · 发表于：Analytical Chemistry · 年份：2023 · DOI：10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05477 · 被引用次数：51 · 研究领域：Microplastics and Plastic Pollution、Recycling and Waste Management Techniques、Effects and risks of endocrine disrupting chemicals

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 2.5 )-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 2.5 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 2.5 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 2.5 -bound PE-MPs. In brief, the new strategy could conduct direct, sensitive, and accurate quantification of PE-MP in PM 2.5, favoring further st...