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Article ? AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button. Tier 2 ? Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence. Detection Methods Marine & Wildlife Sign in to save

Grab vs. neuston tow net: a microplastic sampling performance comparison and possible advances in the field

Analytical Methods 2016 335 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Abigail Barrows, Courtney A. Neumann, Michelle L. Berger, Susan D. Shaw

Summary

This study directly compared the performance of grab sampling (taking a small water volume by hand) versus neuston tow netting for quantifying surface microplastics, finding that results differed significantly. The comparison highlights how method choice affects reported concentrations, making inter-study comparisons unreliable without method standardization.

With the rapid evolution of microplastic research over several decades, there is an urgent need to compare methodologies for quantifying microplastic in aquatic environments.

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