Detection of microplastics by means of X-ray computed tomography

Detection of microplastics by means of X-ray computed tomography

Konferenční sborník (ne stať)

Plastic pollution is a global concern with significant environmental implications. Recent research has shed light on the potential health risks associated with microplastics to human health. Microplastics enter the human body through inhalation and ingestion, accumulating in various tissues. Despite their potential health effects, our understanding of their impacts still needs to be improved. The primary challenge in understanding the correlation between microplastic presence and its effects on humans is achieving reliable detection. Spectroscopic techniques, notably Raman spectroscopy, have effectively detected microplastics in biological samples. However, it's important to note that sample preparation for these techniques involves the irreversible loss of local distribution through tissue digestion and filtration. Local distribution serves as a valuable indicator, as the accumulation of microplastics in specific organ regions can enhance our understanding of their effects on the body. Hence, to preserve information regarding local distribution, we propose the usage of micro computed tomography (microCT) in microplastic research. One major advantage of microCT is its ability to provide 3D imaging of morphology, revealing internal structures non-destructively. Our future objective is to visualize microplastic distribution within specific organs using microCT. However, the low contrast of microplastics and their small size pose challenges to their accurate identification. Therefore, here we assess the limitations of microplastic imaging using microCT through experiments conducted on polyethylene particles, the most prevalent type of microplastics in our environment. Our findings illustrate how various scanning parameters, particularly voxel size, influence the size limitation of analysed particles. Voxel size is closely linked to both the sample size under examination and, consequently, the limited size of detected particles within the organ. Additionally, our study presents a workflow for identifying polyethylene particles in biological samples, emphasizing the importance of selecting an appropriate sample size based on the desired size range of detected microplastics.

Plastic pollution is a global concern with significant environmental implications. Recent research has shed light on the potential health risks associated with microplastics to human health. Microplastics enter the human body through inhalation and ingestion, accumulating in various tissues. Despite their potential health effects, our understanding of their impacts still needs to be improved. The primary challenge in understanding the correlation between microplastic presence and its effects on humans is achieving reliable detection. Spectroscopic techniques, notably Raman spectroscopy, have effectively detected microplastics in biological samples. However, it's important to note that sample preparation for these techniques involves the irreversible loss of local distribution through tissue digestion and filtration. Local distribution serves as a valuable indicator, as the accumulation of microplastics in specific organ regions can enhance our understanding of their effects on the body. Hence, to preserve information regarding local distribution, we propose the usage of micro computed tomography (microCT) in microplastic research. One major advantage of microCT is its ability to provide 3D imaging of morphology, revealing internal structures non-destructively. Our future objective is to visualize microplastic distribution within specific organs using microCT. However, the low contrast of microplastics and their small size pose challenges to their accurate identification. Therefore, here we assess the limitations of microplastic imaging using microCT through experiments conducted on polyethylene particles, the most prevalent type of microplastics in our environment. Our findings illustrate how various scanning parameters, particularly voxel size, influence the size limitation of analysed particles. Voxel size is closely linked to both the sample size under examination and, consequently, the limited size of detected particles within the organ. Additionally, our study presents a workflow for identifying polyethylene particles in biological samples, emphasizing the importance of selecting an appropriate sample size based on the desired size range of detected microplastics.

microplastics, Computed Tomography, ecotoxicology

microplastics, Computed Tomography, ecotoxicology

PAROBKOVÁ, V.; MALEČEK, L.; ZEMEK, M.; ZIKMUND, T.; KAISER, J.

2026

18.04.2024

Kataložni zapis o publikaciji (CIP) pripravili v Narodni in univerzitetni knjižnici v Ljubljani

978-961-7078-47-3

29

https://planterastics.fkkt.uni-lj.si/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/BOOK-OF-ABSTRACTS.pdf