ISO 4484-2:2023

Overview - ISO 4484-2:2023 (Microplastics from textile sources)

ISO 4484-2:2023 specifies a repeatable qualitative and quantitative analysis method for microplastics released by the textile sector. It defines how to determine particle number, morphology, dimensional distribution, polymer type (chemical origin) and colour, and how to express results as estimated surface area and mass per unit sample. The standard applies to microplastics collected from multiple matrices - solid, liquid (e.g., textile process or clothes washing water) and aeriform (air emissions) - and supports downstream ecotoxicological assessments.

Key definitions include the microplastic size ranges: particles from 100 nm to 5 mm, and fibres with length 300 nm to 15 mm (length/diameter ratio >3).

Key technical topics and requirements

• Scope of measurement
  • Count and classify MPs by number, shape, size class, surface area and estimated mass.
  • Identify polymer type using molecular spectroscopy.
• Applicable matrices
  • Solid textile residues, process wastewater, clothes washing effluent, workplace air samples.
• Sample handling and contamination control
  • Detailed cleaning procedures, blank tests and filter cleaning to minimise environmental contamination.
• Sample preparation
  • Pre-treatment pathways for solid, liquid and air matrices, including homogenisation, pre-dilution and sonication where required.
• Analytical workflow
  • Initial optical microscopy for particle observation.
  • Image analysis to record morphology and dimensional distribution.
  • Molecular identification using Micro‑FTIR and Micro‑Raman spectroscopy to confirm polymer types.
• Quality assurance
  • Use of internal standard fibres, recovery procedures, detection limits, replicate filters and statistical evaluation to assess precision and recovery.
• Result reporting
  • Expressions in particle counts, dimensional classes, estimated surface area and optional total mass; information structured for ecotoxicological use.

Practical applications and users

Who will use ISO 4484-2:2023:

• Textile manufacturers and R&D teams assessing product shedding and process emissions.
• Analytical laboratories conducting microplastic monitoring and reporting.
• Environmental regulators and certification bodies establishing compliance or monitoring programs.
• Wastewater and process engineers evaluating treatment performance for microplastic removal.
• Occupational health specialists measuring workplace air quality in textile facilities.
• Researchers studying microplastic fate, transport and ecotoxicology.

Practical value:

• Delivers standardised, comparable data for mitigation, process optimisation and regulatory reporting.
• Provides inputs (size, shape, surface, mass estimate) needed for ecotoxicological assessments and exposure modelling.

Related standards

• ISO 4484-1 / ISO 4484-3 (sample preparation references)
• ISO 1833-4 (textile chemical analysis)
• ISO 3696 (water for laboratory use)
• EN 481, EN 13284 (air and dust measurement standards)

Keywords: ISO 4484-2:2023, microplastics, textiles, Micro‑FTIR, Micro‑Raman, sample preparation, wastewater, air sampling, ecotoxicological assessment.