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On the harmonization of methods for measuring the occurrence, fate and effects of microplastics
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This editorial introduces a themed journal issue on microplastics methods and calls for harmonization of sampling, extraction, and analysis procedures across the field. Inconsistent methods are one of the main barriers to comparing results between studies and drawing firm conclusions about microplastic pollution levels.
Welcome to this Analytical Methods themed issue on microplastics in the environment, guest edited by Chelsea M. Rochman, Fiona Regan and Richard C. Thompson. The editors hope that this editorial will facilitate discussions that lead toward harmonized methods that are informed by hypotheses, and ultimately produce data that can be synthesized and used to inform effective local and global policies that prevent and mitigate microplastics.
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Balancing New Approaches and Harmonized Techniques in Nano- and Microplastics Research
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This editorial called for the nano- and microplastics research community to balance the development of new analytical methods with harmonization of existing approaches, arguing that inconsistent methods remain a major obstacle to comparing findings across studies and establishing global baselines.
Methods for sampling, processing, identification,and quantification of microplastics in the marine environment
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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.
Microplastics analysis
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This editorial overview introduces a special journal issue on microplastics analysis methods, summarizing 14 studies covering sampling, extraction, and identification techniques across water, soil, sediment, air, and living organisms. The compilation underscores the urgent need for standardized protocols — without them, results from different studies cannot be reliably compared.
Isolation and Extraction of Microplastics from Environmental Samples: An Evaluation of Practical Approaches and Recommendations for Further Harmonization
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Isolation and extraction methods for microplastics from environmental samples were evaluated and compared, tracing the evolution of methodologies from early studies in the 1970s to current approaches. The review identified persistent inconsistencies in extraction efficiency across methods as a major obstacle to comparing microplastic contamination data across studies and locations.
Balancing New Approaches and Harmonized Techniques in Nano- and Microplastics Research
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This editorial discussed the need to balance innovative analytical approaches with harmonized techniques in nano- and microplastics research, emphasizing that standardized methods are essential for generating comparable data across studies and advancing the field.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.