Microplastics Research Compromised by Laboratory Gloves

Recent research from the University of Michigan has revealed that commonly used nitrile and latex gloves may be contributing to inflated microplastics data in scientific studies. The study, published in the journal *RSC Analytical Methods*, identifies stearates—substances added to gloves to prevent sticking—as the primary culprits. These particles are chemically similar to microplastics, making them difficult to differentiate in laboratory analyses. The investigation began when doctoral graduate Madeline Clough observed unexpectedly high levels of microplastics during air sampling for airborne pollutants while wearing nitrile gloves.

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Clough's findings prompted a thorough examination of potential contamination sources, leading to the conclusion that the gloves themselves were shedding particles that mimicked microplastics. The research team tested seven types of gloves and found that cleanroom gloves, which do not contain stearates, produced significantly fewer false positives—about 100 per square millimeter—compared to approximately 2,000 for other glove types. This discrepancy highlights a critical flaw in current methodologies used by scientists studying microplastics.

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The implications of this discovery are substantial. Clough noted that the presence of stearates could lead researchers to overestimate the prevalence of microplastics in environmental samples. “If you are contacting a sample with a gloved hand, you’re likely imparting these stearates that could overestimate your results,” she explained. Senior author Anne McNeil emphasized that while the findings suggest a potential overestimation of microplastics, the issue of plastic pollution remains significant. “There’s still a lot out there, and that’s the problem,” McNeil stated.

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The research team advocates for refining methodologies in microplastics studies to account for glove-related contamination. They suggest that researchers can recover impacted datasets by utilizing spectral libraries of stearate standards alongside improved sampling techniques. Clough expressed optimism, stating, “There’s still hope to recover them and find a true quantity of microplastics.”

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While the findings have been met with interest, some scientists remain cautious. Critics argue that the study does not negate the existence of microplastics but rather calls for a reevaluation of how data is collected and interpreted. This perspective underscores the complexity of accurately assessing microplastic pollution in various environments.

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As the scientific community grapples with these revelations, further investigations into the impact of laboratory practices on microplastics research are anticipated. Researchers are encouraged to adopt cleaner methodologies to ensure more accurate assessments of microplastic prevalence and its implications for environmental and human health.

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• “It led to a wild goose chase of trying to figure out where this contamination could possibly have come from, because we just knew this number was far too high to be correct,” — Madeline Clough, Doctoral Graduate, University of Michigan

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• “We may be overestimating microplastics, but there should be none,” — Anne McNeil, Chemistry Professor, University of Michigan

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• “This field is very challenging to work in because there’s plastic everywhere,” — Anne McNeil, Chemistry Professor, University of Michigan

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