Journal
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
Volume 114, Issue 1, Pages 77-83Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.08.055
Keywords
Microplastics; Beach sampling; Extraction; Method standardization; Standard operating procedure
Funding
- Gratama Foundation of the Leiden University Fund [2015-08]
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Microplastics are ubiquitous in the environment, are frequently ingested by organisms, and may potentially cause harm. A range of studies have found significant levels of microplastics in beach sand. However, there is a considerable amount of methodological variability among these studies. Methodological variation currently limits comparisons as there is no standard procedure for sampling or extraction of microplastics. We identify key sampling and extraction procedures across the literature through a detailed review. We find that sampling depth, sampling location, number of repeat extractions, and settling times are the critical parameters of variation. Next, using a case-study we determine whether and to what extent these differences impact study outcomes. By investigating the common practices identified in the literature with the case-study, we provide a standard operating procedure for sampling and extracting microplastics from beach sand. (C) 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
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