1st InPlasTwin WEBINAR
On the 23rd of April, 2025. the webinar “Microplastic Analysis in the Environment: Sampling, Extraction Protocols, and Contamination Control,” hosted by the InPlasTwin project, in synergistic collaboration with the Greenland project. The focus of this webinar was to highlight and discuss methodologies and critical considerations necessary for obtaining reliable and meaningful data on microplastic pollution across various environmental matrices. It was supported by active contribution of researchers, scientists, and environmental enthusiasts interested in learning more on tackling the growing issue of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) present in the environment.
Dr. Janja Vidmar: InPlasTwin project
InPlasTwin Initiative was presented by Dr. Janja Vidmar, a research associate at the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Project Coordinator of the InPlasTwin project. She highlighted the project’s core objective: to enhance expertise in micro- and nanoplastic (MNPs) analysis through a twinning approach involving six partners across Europe, coordinated by the Jožef Stefan Institute. Dr. Vidmar outlined the project’s aims to improve research and innovation capacities in Slovenia and Greece, focusing on the environmental and food-related impacts of micro- and nanoplastics, particularly in agriculture. The consortium’s multidisciplinary nature, encompassing analytical chemistry, agriculture, and innovation management, was emphasized. Dr. Vidmar also briefly touched upon the project’s specific objectives, including fostering long-term collaboration through research exchanges and training, strengthening analytical expertise, enhancing research profiles, and increasing the social impact of research on microplastic pollution in agriculture. The project’s upcoming case study, examining the impact of degrading mulching films on strawberries, was introduced as the foundation for research activities involving laboratory and field experiments using advanced analytical techniques. Dr. Vidmar concluded by highlighting the project’s progress in its initial months and its active collaboration with other projects like GREENLand.
Dr. Nataša Stojić: Ensuring Reliability Through Rigorous Protocols
Dr. Nataša Stojić, a professor at the Faculty of Environmental Protection at Educons University and the Work Package Leader in the Project GREENLand, delivered a presentation on “Ensuring Reliable Microplastic Analysis with Best Sampling Practices and Contamination Control.” Dr. Stojić, whose research focuses on the analysis of organic and inorganic pollutants, particularly microplastics in soil, emphasized the critical role of methodological planning in obtaining representative samples, minimizing contamination, and capturing a wide range of particle sizes.
For surface waters, Dr. Stojić discussed net sampling (manta, neuston, bongo), pump-based sampling, and manual grab sampling, outlining their respective advantages and limitations based on study goals and particle size. Regarding soil sampling, she highlighted the importance of inert tools, focusing on upper soil layers, and the benefits of composite sampling to account for heterogeneity. A significant portion of her talk addressed contamination control, offering practical advice for field and laboratory procedures, including appropriate clothing, inert and clean equipment, sheltered sampling conditions, and non-plastic sample containers. Dr. Stojić also detailed the essential role of various types of blanks – field blanks, negative blanks, laboratory blanks, and positive blanks – in detecting and accounting for procedural contamination. She concluded by stressing that rigorous quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) measures are very important for the credibility and reproducibility of microplastic research findings.
Following Dr. Stojić’s comprehensive overview of best practices, Galina Ćurčić, a teaching assistant at Educons University and a member of the Greenland project, shared her firsthand experience from a training visit to the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) in Helgoland, Germany. Her presentation provided a valuable practical perspective on the implementation of microplastic analysis techniques and the rigorous protocols employed at a leading research institution. While the detailed content of her presentation is not fully transcribed here, her sharing of practical challenges, learned methodologies, and the collaborative research environment at AWI offered valuable insights for the webinar attendees.
Nhu Phan: Navigating the Complexities of Micro and Nanoplastics in Soil
Stepping in with her expertise, Nhu Van from the VITO Institute delivered an insightful presentation on the “Micro and Nanoplastics in Soil: Challenges and Analytical Advancements.” Her talk focused on the unique complexities associated with analyzing these minuscule plastic particles within the intricate matrix of soil. She discussed the difficulties in extraction, separation, and characterization due to the diverse nature of soil components and the often low concentrations of micro- and nanoplastics present. Dr. Van then detailed some of the latest advancements in analytical techniques, highlighting innovative approaches to overcome these challenges and improve the accuracy and reliability of soil microplastic analysis. Her presentation provided a crucial understanding of the specific hurdles and emerging solutions in this critical area of research, particularly relevant to the InPlasTwin project’s focus on agricultural environments.
Open Floor Discussion: Engaging with the Experts
The webinar concluded with an engaging open floor discussion, allowing participants to directly interact with the panel of experts. Questions spanned various aspects of sampling, contamination control, challenges in different environments, and analytical techniques, fostering a valuable exchange of knowledge.
Conclusions
The InPlasTwin project’s first online webinar, in collaboration with the Greenland project, effectively disseminated crucial knowledge and fostered collaboration in microplastic analysis. The expert presentations highlighted best practices, challenges, and advancements in this field. The emphasis on methodologies and robust QA/QC underscored the path towards reliable data on microplastic pollution. The active engagement during the discussion further emphasized the importance of continued knowledge sharing as we work towards understanding and mitigating this pressing environmental challenge.
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