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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 Environmental Sources Marine & Wildlife Policy & Risk Remediation Sign in to save

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification

Environmental Science & Technology 2012 5047 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 50 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Lars Gutow, Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Lars Gutow, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Valeria Hidalgo‐Ruz, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel Martín Thiel Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Richard C. Thompson, Martín Thiel

Summary

This review covered the methods used to identify and characterize microplastics in marine environmental samples, evaluating the strengths and limitations of visual, spectroscopic, and chemical approaches for field and laboratory analysis.

Polymers
PE PP
Study Type Environmental

This review of 68 studies compares the methodologies used for the identification and quantification of microplastics from the marine environment. Three main sampling strategies were identified: selective, volume-reduced, and bulk sampling. Most sediment samples came from sandy beaches at the high tide line, and most seawater samples were taken at the sea surface using neuston nets. Four steps were distinguished during sample processing: density separation, filtration, sieving, and visual sorting of microplastics. Visual sorting was one of the most commonly used methods for the identification of microplastics (using type, shape, degradation stage, and color as criteria). Chemical and physical characteristics (e.g., specific density) were also used. The most reliable method to identify the chemical composition of microplastics is by infrared spectroscopy. Most studies reported that plastic fragments were polyethylene and polypropylene polymers. Units commonly used for abundance estimates are "items per m(2)" for sediment and sea surface studies and "items per m(3)" for water column studies. Mesh size of sieves and filters used during sampling or sample processing influence abundance estimates. Most studies reported two main size ranges of microplastics: (i) 500 μm-5 mm, which are retained by a 500 μm sieve/net, and (ii) 1-500 μm, or fractions thereof that are retained on filters. We recommend that future programs of monitoring continue to distinguish these size fractions, but we suggest standardized sampling procedures which allow the spatiotemporal comparison of microplastic abundance across marine environments.

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