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Microplastics in Stormwater: Sampling and Methodology Challenges
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Stormwater runoff washes microplastics from roads, lawns, and urban surfaces directly into streams and rivers, but measuring this pathway consistently has been hampered by a lack of standardized sampling methods. This study collected stormwater sediment samples from control measures across multiple U.S. regions and found that conventional sampling tools designed for chemical contaminants are poorly suited for capturing the full range of microplastic sizes and shapes. The results call for purpose-built sampling protocols for stormwater microplastics to improve the reliability of pollution monitoring.
Stormwater runoff is a significant source of microplastics to surface water. This study addresses challenges in the sampling, treatment, and characterization of microplastics in existing stormwater control measures across various regions in the United States. Stormwater sediment samples were collected via traditional stormwater sampling approaches for particulate and inorganic contamination with portable automatic samplers, analyzed using visible and fluorescence microscopy with Nile red as a selective stain, and subsequently confirmed through Raman spectroscopy. The inclusion of laboratory and field blanks enabled the identification of contamination at key steps during sample handling. The results reveal that the filtration process is a significant source of laboratory contamination, while the sampling process itself could be a primary contributor to overall sample contamination. Additionally, it was found that using green fluorescence as the sole emission wavelength may underestimate MP quantities, as some particles emit fluorescence exclusively in the red spectrum. Raman analysis revealed interferences caused by pigments and additives in plastics, along with challenges evaluating particles in the low micron range (≤10 microns), which complicates a comprehensive analysis. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of implementing strong quality assurance and control measures when assessing the levels of microplastics in the environment, including sample collection, processing, and analysis.
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Sampling Strategies of Microplastic in Stormwater Runoff from Separate Drainage Systems
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Researchers developed and tested sampling strategies for collecting microplastics from stormwater runoff in separate drainage systems, finding that sampling approach strongly influences the accuracy of estimated pollution loads. Standardized stormwater sampling is important because urban runoff is one of the main pathways delivering microplastics from land to waterways and eventually to the ocean.
Microplastics in Urban Stormwater: Sampling and Separation Method
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Researchers developed and tested sampling and separation methods for detecting microplastics in urban stormwater runoff, an important but understudied pathway for plastic contamination of surface waters. The study helps establish standardized protocols for monitoring microplastics in stormwater systems.
Stormwater microplastic polymer types, particle sizes, and impact of techniques
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Researchers characterised microplastic size distribution, morphology, and polymer profiles in urban stormwater runoff across multiple storm events and assessed how different subsampling techniques affect estimated microplastic concentrations and polymer diversity. The study found that subsampling methodology significantly influences results, highlighting the need for standardised approaches to accurately quantify stormwater as a microplastic pathway into aquatic ecosystems.
Techniques for Collecting Micro Plastics in Freshwaters and Sediments
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This review examined sampling methods used across 150 studies on microplastics in freshwater bodies and sediments, finding significant variation in sampling tools, mesh sizes, and analytical approaches that make it difficult to compare results across studies. Standardizing sampling and analysis protocols is one of the most pressing needs in microplastic research. Without comparable methods, it is difficult to assess the true extent of freshwater microplastic contamination globally.
Stormwater microplastic polymer types, particle sizes, and impact of techniques
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Researchers characterized microplastic size distribution, morphology, polymer composition, and loading in urban stormwater runoff across two sampling campaigns using different standardized methods (NOAA and ASTM protocols) with FTIR and FTIR-microscopy analysis. They found MP concentrations of 86 particles/L in the 63-250 µm size range and assessed how subsampling strategies affect estimated concentrations and polymer diversity in environmental samples.
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