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Plastics in biota: technological readiness level of current methodologies
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Researchers evaluated the scientific readiness of current laboratory methods for detecting and measuring plastic particles inside living organisms — from fish to insects — identifying which techniques are reproducible enough to be used in standardized environmental monitoring programs. Harmonizing these methods is critical for generating consistent, comparable data on how plastics accumulate across food webs.
Abstract Plastics are persistent in the environment and may be ingested by organisms where they may cause physical harm or release plastic additives. Monitoring is a crucial mechanism to assess the risk of plastics to the marine and terrestrial ecosystem. Unfortunately, due to unharmonised procedures, it remains difficult to compare the results of different studies. This publication, as part of the Horizon project EUROqCHARM, aims to identify the properties of the available analytical processes and methods for the determination of plastics in biota. Based on a systematic review, reproducible analytical pipelines were examined and the technological readiness levels were assessed so that these methods may eventually (if not already) be incorporated into (harmonised) monitoring programs where biota are identified as indicators of plastic pollution.
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This review examines recent advances in analytical methods for detecting and quantifying microplastics in aquatic organisms, identifying key sources of variability across studies and outlining research challenges needed to improve comparability and standardization.
A critical view on microplastic quantification in aquatic organisms
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Researchers critically reviewed the methods used to quantify microplastics in aquatic organisms including zooplankton, bivalves, and fish. The study highlights that no standardized methodology exists for measuring microplastic contamination in biota, which makes comparing results across studies difficult and underscores the need for consistent analytical protocols.
Quality Criteria for the Analysis of Microplastic in Biota Samples: A Critical Review
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Ten quality criteria were applied to review recent microplastic ingestion studies in aquatic biota, finding wide variation in methodological rigor including inadequate sample sizes, poor contamination controls, and inconsistent polymer identification methods. The authors propose a standardized quality assessment framework to improve comparability of microplastic ingestion data across studies.
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This review assessed various monitoring methods for detecting microplastic ingestion by marine biota, comparing laboratory and field-based approaches. The authors recommend method selection based on organism type and research question and call for more consistent reporting standards to enable cross-study comparison.
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Researchers reviewed the current state of microplastic monitoring methods and their biological effects in aquatic systems, noting that most studies have focused on measuring how much plastic is present rather than understanding its harm to organisms. They emphasize the urgent need for standardized protocols so that results from different studies can be meaningfully compared.
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