Microplastics menace: the new emerging lurking environmental issue, a review on sampling and quantification in aquatic environments

Microplastics (MPs) are considered as an emerging contaminant in aquatic environments which enter through various routes. The number of studies on MPs has increased dramatically in recent years, owing to a growing awareness of the potential health hazards associated with MPs exposure. The adoption of a set of acceptable methodologies to reliably identify and measure MPs from various matrices is an underlying issue in this study field due to its complexity and impact. These approaches should then be harmonized to create quantitative, repeatable, and comparable data in the quantification of MPs. In concern to this unique problem; this focal point review aims to provide researchers with an overview of methods for collection, handling, and sampling from the aqueous environment; delineation and quantification of MPs; the advantages and limits of such processes; approaches for future studies to surmount such limitations. The review findings highlighted that the sampling needs an appropriate design, collection tool, exact sampling site, and size for accuracy. The development of extractive effectiveness by re-utilizing the chemicals recommended for accurate separation of the MPs. The subsequent validation of spectroscopic analysis in addition to visual imaging is essential for the qualitative analysis of MPs. Temporal comparison and large-scale spatial data procured from existing analytical techniques and approaches are the major issues delimiting the decision appropriate in the monitoring of MPs. Hence, it’s recommended that future research needs to focus on developing standard methodologies and highly equipped automated analytical techniques for rapid and reliable detection of MPs.