We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microlitter Quality assurance and Quality control approaches to enable the comparability of data in European Seas
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) approaches for microlitter monitoring in European seas, identifying the lack of harmonized protocols across sampling and analysis methods as a key barrier to producing comparable microplastic data across different national and regional monitoring programs.
Microlitter (incl. Microplastics) is ubiquitous in all environmental compartments and monitoring data are needed to support policy processes. Therefore, besides availability of guidance for monitoring, analysis and data treatment, there is need to establish large scale agreed provisions for quality control and quality assurance, also to be documented as metadata. There are currently no harmonised QA/QC protocols or methods implemented in the collection and analysis of microlitter, that would allow the collection of comparable and reliable data. Although the application of QA/QC procedures in microlitter studies is becoming more frequent, proficiency testing and interlaboratory schemes are currently not implemented for evaluating the performance and calibration of laboratories. Therefore, QA/QC best practices are urgently needed to ensure the validation of microlitter measurements and to produce more accurate data. The European Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) Technical Group on Marine Litter (TG ML), together with the scientific community is currently evaluating the available approaches and options to validate and check microlitter samples based on references materials, proficiency and interlaboratory testing for in-house calibrations, checks and external validation. Furthermore good practices for avoiding contamination during sampling and analysis processes to support harmonised microlitter monitoring in European Seas and the implementation of the MSFD are being compiled. Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/569298/document
More Papers Like This
Microlitter Quality assurance and Quality control approaches to enable the comparability of data in European Seas
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines the lack of harmonized quality assurance and quality control protocols for microlitter monitoring across European seas, arguing that standardized QA/QC frameworks are essential for producing comparable and reliable microplastic data to support EU policy processes.
Marine Microlitter and Microplastic Quality Assurance and Quality Control - Towards a large scale approach
AI summary Read the abstract
This study examines quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) approaches for marine microlitter and microplastic monitoring at large scale, addressing contamination risks during sampling and analysis, uncertainties in material identification, and the lack of reference materials and proficiency testing schemes needed to produce comparable data across monitoring programs.
Methods for sampling, processing, identification,and quantification of microplastics in the marine environment
AI summary Read the abstract
This paper reviews and compares the various methods used to collect, process, identify, and quantify microplastics across different environmental samples. It highlights the lack of standardized protocols as a major obstacle to comparing results across studies and calls for methodological harmonization.
Harmonized analysis of microplastics: Insights from practical application within the FACTS project
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers described the harmonization procedures developed within the FACTS (Fluxes and Fate of Microplastics in Northern European Waters) project to standardize microplastic analysis across multiple laboratories in different countries. Harmonized methods are essential for generating comparable data on microplastic distribution and flux across regional marine environments.
Systematic assessment of data quality and quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) of current research on microplastics in biosolids and agricultural soils
AI summary Read the abstract
A systematic quality assessment of studies reporting microplastics in biosolids and agricultural soils found significant heterogeneity in concentrations attributable to differences in sampling protocols, analytical methods, and quality assurance practices, undermining cross-study comparisons.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.