Microplastics as a Habitat

Microplastics build up a biofilm on their surfaces over time which in turn concentrate harmful organic pollutants such as pesticides. These then enter the food chain through marine life and are passed on to higher organisms. Analytical solutions such as chromatography and mass spectrometry allow for identification and quantification of these pollutants, and the automation of sample preparation steps, such as solid-phase extraction (SPE), can make the whole process more efficient.