RTI International, CDM Smith to evaluate microplastic testing methods for drinking water

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C. — RTI International, an independent scientific research institute, and engineering firm CDM Smith will lead a newly funded project from The Water Research Foundation (WRF) to evaluate microplastic testing methods for drinking water monitoring.

Microplastics are increasingly studied in water systems, but utilities and laboratories do not have a single standardized approach for routine testing, a need that has been highlighted in EPA’s recent inclusion of microplastics in its draft Sixth Contaminant Candidate List. The project will compare methods using drinking water samples and input from participating laboratories and water utilities.

“Utilities need practical information about which methods are appropriate for their monitoring goals,” said Imari Walker-Franklin, Ph.D., a research chemist at RTI and study lead. “This research will not prescribe a single answer for every system, but it will help compare available approaches based on laboratory performance, cost, accessibility and regulatory needs.”

WRF project 5364, Prioritization and Validation Methods for Microplastic Analysis in Drinking Water, will use an interlaboratory method comparison study designed to assess analytical methods for detecting microplastics in drinking water.

Researchers will begin with a review of the regulatory landscape and scientific literature pertaining to interlaboratory comparison studies and drinking water methods for microplastic detection and characterization. The team will then develop harmonized standard operating procedures for sample preparation and analysis using existing procedures and feedback from participating laboratories.

RTI will characterize source and treated drinking water samples from participating utilities to identify an environmentally relevant sample matrix for interlaboratory comparison samples. A second set of source and treated water samples from one selected utility will then be used to prepare comparison samples for participating laboratories.

The study will compare results from multiple analytical methods and instrumentation using intra- and interlaboratory statistics consistent with ISO/IEC 17043. The project team will then share the findings to gather feedback from participating laboratories and utilities, as well as regulators, accrediting bodies, standard-setting organizations and other laboratories and utilities. This input will help identify the optimal method for drinking water applications.

Participating water utilities currently serve Carrboro, N.C.; Evanston, Ill.; Fountain Valley, Calif.; Laurel, Md.; Las Vegas, Nev.; Minneapolis, Minn.; New Orleans, La.; and Philadelphia, Pa.

Participating labs currently include Arizona State University; Clemson University; Dalhousie University; Desert Research Institute; Emory University; Eurofins laboratories in Australia, California, Hungary, Norway and Spain; New York University; PolyGone Systems; QUALYSE; Shaw Institute; Hawaii Pacific University; the University of New Mexico; University of South Carolina and the University of Pennsylvania.

George Kajjumba, Ph.D., P.E., Research Program Manager at WRF, will manage the project on behalf of the WRF, working with the research team, participating utilities, laboratories, and the WRF Project Advisory Committee throughout the study.

Follow updates on the project (via WRF)

Learn more about RTI’s water quality expertise

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About CDM Smith 
CDM Smith is a privately owned engineering and construction firm providing legendary client service through decades of know-how and digital ingenuity to deliver smart solutions in water, environment, transportation, energy and facilities. Passionate about our work and invested in each other, we are inspired to think and driven to solve the world’s environmental and infrastructure challenges. For more information, www.cdmsmith.com.