Separation and Analysis of Micro(nano)plastics and Associated Chemicals in Food, Environmental and Human Samples

Dear Colleagues,

Plastic pollution and pervasive micro(nano)plastic (MP/NP) fragments have gained recognition globally as emerging environmental problems in ecosystems. Their occurrence, accumulation, and persistence in the air, soil, water, and food can induce (eco)toxicological issues and pose serious threats to the environment and human health. In all biological systems, MP/NP may cause particle toxicity, with oxidative stress, inflammatory lesions and increased uptake or translocation. MP/NP may also be involved in the disruption of immune function and neurotoxicity. MP/NP also act as vectors to adsorb tenacious organic pollutants, trace metals, and harmful additives.

The MP/NP chemical toxic interaction in systems is a complex topic. Understanding these interactions is imperative to develop ways to identify and quantify each chemical in its realistic concentration. In MP/NP analysis, developments in simple and precise tools, validations, and implications in detection, characterization, and quantification still need to be our focus. Sampling, pre-treatment, and characterization, as the available analyte methods, still lack standardization and homogenization. In addition, it is necessary to make advances in methodologies suitable for the separation and analysis of micro(nano)plastics and associated chemicals in environmental, food, and human samples. Manuscripts dedicated to (1) MP/NP and associated chemicals sources, occurrence, distribution and properties; (2) analytical approaches in representative environmental, food, and human matrices; (3) techniques for detection and identification; (4) impacts on ecosystems and human health; and (5) strategies to manage and mitigation are welcome.

Dr. Virgínia Cruz Fernandes
Prof. Dr. Cristina Delerue-Matos
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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• micro(nano)plastics
• additives
• organic pollutants
• emerging pollutants
• sample preparation
• analytical methods
• chemical interactions
• human toxicity
• remediation