Organic Contaminants and Microplastics: Analytical Methodologies

Dear Colleagues,

Microplastics may result from their intentional production or due to the fragmentation of larger plastics. Their rising accumulation and persistence in the aquatic environment may lead to deleterious environmental consequences, which may stem not only from their physical impacts, but also from their role as source or carrier of hazardous chemicals to marine environments and organisms. Nonetheless, research on chemicals associated with microplastics has been scarce and, therefore, many efforts have been made to identify and quantify chemicals in marine microplastics. Still, the analytical strategies and methodologies used have not been discussed in detail. Hence, manuscripts of all aspects related to the chemical analysis of microplastics and plastic debris obtained from samples collected from the field or deployed in the field, within environmentally relevant concentration levels, as well as detailed analytical methodologies for sampling, characterization, analysis and ecotoxicological evaluation of such mixtures, in the form of either research or review papers, are welcome.

Dr. Teresa A. P. Rocha-Santos
Dr. João Pinto da Costa
Guest Editors

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