Would you suggest any changes to Table 1 as a tool to guide studies identifying and quantifying microplastics in biological tissues?

Answer Explanations

• No

  Expert 9
  I think that Table 1 is a very useful and informative summary of current knowledge.
• Yes (please explain and provide any citations you indicate in your comments)

  Expert 3
  The table includes separation/digestion methods and analysis/characterization methods. This should be divided into two tables. Also, to minimize confusion, I would place the references in the corresponding statements, located below the table. 
• Yes (please explain and provide any citations you indicate in your comments)

  Expert 4
  In itself, I find Table 1 vey important. What I would like to change, is to add more explanation as most of the explantion that is provided now below the table, is not discussed in the body text of the manuscript. I plea for integrating the table in the body text whilst also using the additional information as illustrative information int he body text as well.
• Yes (please explain and provide any citations you indicate in your comments)

  Expert 2
  Incorporate footnotes directly into the table.
• Expert 1
  I would not state that pyrolysis GCMS issues related to PE and PVC signals cannot be overcome.  There is a scope of improving that aspect.  Or at least you may use qualifying statements that the issue is reported "currently" and efforts are needed to overcome.
  
  I would separate instrumentation from sample preparation.  FTIR, PyGCMS and Raman are instrumental methods.  Density separation, acid digestion and alkali digestion are sample preparation methods.  Draw a vertical line on Table 1 to separate the two categories.  
• Yes (please explain and provide any citations you indicate in your comments)

  Expert 5
  Suggest changes to notes D and E.  PE and PVC like signals (false signals) from natural products can be minimized with thermal extraction prior to pyrolysis. This is known as Double-Shot.
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.136924
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.123287
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2025.137292
• Yes (please explain and provide any citations you indicate in your comments)

  Expert 8
  You could add PVC with large plasticizer content to the polymer list. These will be difficult to identify with FTIR. Acid or base digestion leach the plasticizers leaving a scaffold of PVC which will appear a different size under microscopy and change the mass of the particle.  
  Acid will decrease the mass of PET, base will decrease the mass of PU and cellulose derivaties (Karr 2020. METHODS MATTER FOR MICROPLASTIC STUDIES:
  POLYMER CHEMICAL COMPATIBILITY & EXTRACTION FROM FISH LARVAE. Master's Thesis. Hawaii Pacific University.) 
• Yes (please explain and provide any citations you indicate in your comments)

  Expert 6
  We should be clearer on the table, as we suggest absolute "no" to the red methods for selected material, meaning if red methods are used for selected material, the results are wrong for sure. or we suggest pay more attention to the publication and work using those red/yellow methods for selected material.