Sector-Field–Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) for the Determination of Toxic Metals in Microplastics from Seawater and Beach Sediments from the Barents and White Seas

Abstract

The sector-field–inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS) technique was applied for the quantification of toxic metals in microplastic particles (MPs) from seawater of six coastal sites from the Barents and White Seas following a microwave-assistant leaching with 30% HNO3. The mean repeatability of the method (relative standard deviation) was 1–4%, and intermediate precision averaged 4–7% for all metals. The dependence of metal content on the MPs size was also of immense consideration. The developed method can be recommended as a standard tool for accurate and precise microplastic analysis with important geochemical and environmental implications.