Avaliação de microplásticos presentes em concentrados de plaquetas.

Abstract

Residuum, fragments or thin plastic films that have a diameter greater than 0.1 µ and less than 5 mm are called microplastics and are most commonly derived from the following materials: polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS) and polyester (PES). Microplastics can be classified into two categories. Primary microplastics are produced to be used in industrial products and end up released into the oceans through rivers and sewage treatment plants, whereas secondary plastics are small fragments of plastic waste that are gradually formed through the large fragments present in the environment. As microplastics are present in the environment and in some products for human consumption, human exposure to these particles becomes irremediable. There are still few studies evaluating the damage caused to human health by exposure to microplastics, as well as little is known about the sources of exposure. This study aimed to evaluate the presence of microplastics in bags of platelet concentrates, categorizing or not as a possible source of exposure to these particles. Chemical characterization of the material of the bag, responsible for storing the platelet concentrate inside, was carried out in order to compare the result obtained with the fibers found in the concentrate result. Raman analysis was performed to obtain a chemical identity of the samples, as well as screening methodologies were used to look for structures that presented physical and visual characteristics of plastic materials. A total of 26 potential microplastic fibers were found, which showed no correlation with the amount of volume present in the bags. The fibers were analyzed using the Raman technique and spectra were obtained compatible with most cotton and cellulose fibers. Fibers of polymeric materials were found in small quantity and with low compatibility to the reference spectra present in the Spectragryph software library - optical spectroscopy. Scanning electron microscopy analysis with EDS/SEM identified elements such as carbon and oxygen, main constituents of polymeric materials. Based on optical and SEM/EDS methodologies, it can be concluded that the fibers found are highly suggestive of being microplastics, but it was not possible to identify the origin of these fibers. Changes in the methodology and processing of the samples are necessary in order to obtain better results in the Raman methodology and thus guarantee the chemical identity of the materials.