This paper presents a method for microplastic (MP) mass quantification using a Focal Plane Array-based Fourier Transform Infrared imaging technique. It discusses the issue that particle number is not a conserved base quantity and hence less suited than mass to compare independent studies on MP in the environment. It concludes that MP mass should be included when quantifying MP pollution in the environment, supplementing the conventional approach of reporting particle numbers. Applying mass as the unit of MP measurement, the paper presents data showing that Danish wastewater treatment plants discharge around 3 t/year of MP in the size range 10–500 μm. This value corresponds to an annual per capita emission from these plants of 0.56 g MP/(capita year). The distribution of polymer types by mass and particle number differed because the size of MP particles of the different material types varied.

本文提出了一种使用基于焦平面阵列的傅立叶变换红外成像技术进行微塑性（MP）质量定量的方法。它讨论了一个问题，即粒子数不是保守的基本量，因此不适合于比较质量的MP，而不是对环境中MP的独立研究。结论是，在定量环境中的MP污染时应包括MP质量，这是对报告颗粒数的常规方法的补充。以质量作为MP的测量单位，本文提供的数据表明，丹麦废水处理厂的MP排放量约为3吨/年，尺寸范围为10-500μm。该值对应于这些工厂的年人均排放量为0.56 g MP /（人均年）。