Identification of Microplastics in Drinking Water Using Pyrolysis-GC/MS
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as an emerging contaminant in drinking water due to their potential health impacts, persistence, and widespread occurrence. Many studies quantify MPs by particle count using spectroscopy; however, polymer mass is typically a more toxicologically relevant metric that is less commonly reported. This study used a validated method combining microwave assisted extraction (MAE) and pyrolysis gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS) to quantify the mass of seven polymers: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polycarbonate (PC), polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA), and polysulfone (PSU). Samples were collected from source and treated waters at seven Canadian drinking water facilities and subjected to chemical and enzymatic digestion. MPs (>1 μm) were detected in all samples, with concentrations of 87–16,312 ng/L in source water and 7–305 ng/L in treated water, indicating 94–100% removal. Polymer profiles were site specific and not strongly correlated with turbidity or total organic carbon.
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