63382 2025 eng lecture 0 -- -- -- The lack of nanoplastic (NPs) reference materials capable of mimicking real-world scenarios is currently hampering the development of validated extraction techniques from complex matrices (e.g. soils, sediments, biota), the development of analytical approaches for robust identification and quantification, and the ability to use environmentally relevant test materials in (eco)toxicity testing and hazard assessment [1]. The large body of available data suggests that larger microplastics (MPs) in the natural environment are irregular shaped, partially degraded (chemically and physically), a continuum of sizes, shapes and densities, represent a wide range of polymer types, and acts as a reservoir for thousands of plastic chemicals. Although NPs have been described as being neither MPs nor engineered nanoparticles [2], and while direct measurement data of true NP in the environment remain elusive, they are expected to be as equally diverse as MPs [3]. Here, we present a strategy towards the development of a potential NP reference material based on nano-sized polyproplyene particles (nanoPP) developed within the EURAMET-funded PlasticTrace project (https://plastictrace.eu/). The strategy includes the preparation, the physicochemical characterization and the stability assessment of nanoPP in suspension both in its pristine state, but also when spiked into food (mineral water and milk) and environmental matrices (suspended particulate matter collected from the river Elbe ). Collected experimental data suggests nanoPP to be a promising candidate for a NP reference material. SETAC Europe 2025 Vienna, Austria 11.05.2025 15.05.2025 0 publish false true R. Drexel eng uncontrolled Nanoplastics eng uncontrolled Reference materials Analytische Chemie Sanitär- und Kommunaltechnik; Umwelttechnik 6 Materialchemie 6.5 Synthese und Streuverfahren nanostrukturierter Materialien Umwelt Umwelt-Material-Interaktionen Chemie und Prozesstechnik Chemische Charakterisierung und Spurenanalytik Datei im Netzwerk der BAM verfügbar ("Closed Access") Präsentation