Collection of Microplastics and Nanoplastics from Various Environments and Associated Challenges

The current chapter describes various sampling strategies and devices to collect microplastics and nanoplastics from various environments. Challenges associated with sampling are also discussed in the chapter. Sampling strategies can be distinguished into selective, bulk, and volume-reduced samplings. Every sampling strategy has its own merits and demerits. Microplastics and nanoplastics in the aquatic environment are sampled using different devices. Sampling devices can be divided into three categories: non-discrete sampling devices include nets and pumping systems; discrete sampling devices include Niskin bottles, rosette, integrating water sampler, bucket, and steel sampler; and sampling devices of the surface microlayer include sieves and rotating drum sampler. The sediment samples are mostly collected by manual picking or using a different corer, while atmospheric samplings are collected by active or passive pumping. Wide variation in quantification of abundance of microplastics and lack of valid standardization protocols are associated challenges.