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Practical Evaluation of the Effectiveness of Different Samplers for Microplastic Analysis in Seafloor Sediments
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Researchers compared Multicorer and Van Veen Grab samplers for microplastic analysis in seafloor sediments from the western Black Sea shelf, finding that the Van Veen Grab likely underestimates microplastic concentrations due to disturbance of the upper sediment layer where microplastics accumulate, and recommending harmonisation of sampling methods for FAIR-data repositories.
Summary The paper presents a comparison of the Multicorer and Van Veen Grab samplers in assessing seafloor sediments to analyze the quantity and distribution of microplastics on the seabed. The results from the western Black Sea shelf indicate that Van Veen Grab sampling may underestimate microplastic concentrations compared to the Multicorer. This discrepancy is likely due to the disturbance or loss of the upper sediment layer, where microplastics tend to accumulate. To ensure consistency in FAIR-data repositories, harmonization of microplastic research data obtained using different sampling methods is necessary.
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