Differentiation of petro-sourced plastic microfilaments from organic microfilaments by SEM-EDX in environmental samples.

Quantifying microplastics (MPs) in marine environments is challenging due to the complexities of differentiation from other materials. This study aims to distinguish petro-sourced plastic microfilaments from organic ones in environmental samples using scanning electron microscope coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX) analysis. Therefore, 38 particles resembling MPs (PRMPs) from sediments and organisms in Madagascar were analyzed.