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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to A breakthrough in the harmonization of microplastics monitoring protocols in latin american region
ClearA breakthrough in the harmonization of microplastics monitoring protocols in latin american region
This paper describes progress toward harmonizing microplastic monitoring protocols across Latin American countries, aiming to create consistent, comparable data from a region with significant plastic pollution challenges but historically fragmented scientific approaches. Standardized monitoring is a prerequisite for effective regional policy and for understanding how plastic pollution flows through South and Central American river systems.
Methodological similarities and discrepancies among studies on microplastics in South American continental aquatic environments
Researchers conducted a systematic review of 57 studies on microplastic pollution in South American continental aquatic environments, identifying significant methodological discrepancies in sampling, detection limits, and sample preparation that limit cross-study comparability and proposing standardization approaches.
Improving monitoring, analysis and reporting to assess plastic pollution: a matter of comparability
This review examines two decades of microplastic monitoring in aquatic systems, identifying persistent challenges in harmonizing methodologies for sampling, analysis, and reporting that hinder data comparison, and proposing improvements to create comparable datasets for assessing plastic pollution from river basins to the ocean.
Microplastics in riverine systems: Recommendations for standardized sampling, separation, digestion and characterization
This paper provides standardized recommendations for microplastic sampling, separation, digestion, and characterization protocols in riverine systems, addressing methodological inconsistency that limits cross-study comparability. The authors propose harmonized operating procedures for field sampling and laboratory analysis to improve the reliability and comparability of microplastic data across river studies globally.
Microplastics in Rivers of South America: An Emerging Area of Research
This review examines the current state of microplastic research in South American rivers, finding that studies are concentrated in just a few countries and that standardized sampling methods are largely absent. Researchers identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene as the most commonly found plastics, primarily from packaging and textile sources. The study calls for expanded and coordinated research efforts across Latin America to better understand the scale of riverine microplastic pollution on the continent.
Quantification of microplastics: Which parameters are essential for a reliable inter-study comparison?
Inconsistent measurement methods make it very difficult to compare microplastic data across studies. This paper proposes standardized guidelines for quantifying microplastic size and shape distributions, which would allow scientists to better track pollution levels over time and across locations.
The Caribbean Microplastics problem; harmonization of protocols through the IAEA.
This paper describes efforts by the IAEA NUTEC Plastics project to harmonize microplastic monitoring protocols across Caribbean countries, building regional capacity for standardized data collection and analysis. Participating countries established baseline contamination data using shared methods, enabling cross-country comparisons in a region where previous monitoring was highly fragmented.
Disparities in Methods Used to Determine Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment: A Review of Legislation, Sampling Process and Instrumental Analysis
This review examined the wide disparities in sampling, processing, and analytical methods used across microplastic studies, highlighting how inconsistent approaches make it difficult to compare results and calling for standardized international protocols and regulatory frameworks.
Review of current trends, advances and analytical challenges for microplastics contamination in Latin America
This review compiled 78 studies on microplastic contamination across Latin America and found that research in the region remains limited, with Brazil accounting for 34% of all studies. Fibers were the most prevalent microplastic type found, making up 62% of particles, with polyethylene, polypropylene, PET, and polystyrene accounting for 80% of identified polymers. The study highlights significant gaps in standardized methodologies that make it difficult to establish baseline microplastic pollution levels across the region.
Standardised protocol for monitoring microplastics in sediments. Deliverable 4.2.
This paper presents a standardized protocol for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments, developed as part of an international project to harmonize sampling and analysis methods across different research groups. Having consistent protocols is essential for generating comparable data to track plastic pollution trends over time and location.
Evaluation of riverine macro- and mesoplastic monitoring approaches.
This review evaluated and compared existing monitoring approaches for riverine macro- and mesoplastics, identifying key methodological inconsistencies that limit cross-study comparisons and calling for standardization to improve understanding of plastic transport and accumulation in freshwater river systems.
Global measurement of surface water microplastics using a unified size threshold
A globally deployable measurement approach was developed for monitoring microplastics on water surfaces using a unified protocol applicable across different geographic regions. Standardized global measurement methods are critical for generating comparable data needed to assess the scale of ocean plastic pollution.
Significant regional disparities in riverine microplastics
Researchers built a comprehensive framework to compare microplastic pollution across 76 rivers spanning Asia, Europe, and Africa, revealing significant regional differences. Rivers in Asia tended to have higher microplastic concentrations than those in Europe, and land use patterns strongly influenced contamination levels. The study highlights the need for standardized methods to enable meaningful global comparisons of riverine microplastic pollution.
Standardization of monitoring data reassesses spatial distribution of aquatic microplastics concentrations worldwide
Researchers created a new method to standardize microplastic measurements across different studies worldwide, enabling accurate comparisons for the first time. After applying the correction, they found that North America had the highest average microplastic concentrations in fresh water, and that contamination levels closely tracked human development indicators. This standardized approach is an important step toward understanding the true scale of microplastic pollution in the water people use.
Microplastics in Latin America and the Caribbean: On the adoption of reporting standards and quality assurance and quality control protocols
This review of 193 microplastic studies from Latin America and the Caribbean found that over 80% lacked standardized analytical protocols and quality assurance controls, making cross-study comparisons unreliable. Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, and Chile contributed the most research, with marine ecosystems and biota (primarily fish) as the most studied targets.
Microplastic analysis—are we measuring the same? Results on the first global comparative study for microplastic analysis in a water sample
Researchers conducted the first international comparative study of analytical methods for microplastic analysis in a water sample and found that comparability between methods was highly limited, underscoring the urgent need for standardized protocols in microplastic research.
Microplastic pollution in the Amazon Basin: Current scenario, advances and perspectives
Researchers reviewed all available studies on microplastic pollution in the Amazon Basin and found that contamination is widespread despite limited research, with only four of the nine basin countries having published data. Microplastic levels in some Amazon waterways were comparable to heavily industrialized regions like China's Yellow River, with poor sanitation infrastructure and extensive river networks acting as key factors. The study highlights major gaps in monitoring across large portions of the Amazon and calls for coordinated regional research efforts.
Microplastics in Latin America Ecosystems: A Critical Review of the Current Stage and Research Needs
This systematic review of 196 studies reveals that Latin America, which consumes 8% of the world's plastic but recycles only 4.5%, has significant gaps in microplastic contamination data. Understanding the distribution of microplastics in Latin American ecosystems is critical for assessing potential health risks to the region's populations.
Revisión de métodos de muestreo, detección, caracterización de microplásticos y control de calidad en columna de agua y sedimentos
This Spanish-language review surveys the methods used to sample, detect, and characterize microplastics in water and sediments, cataloguing the advantages and limitations of each approach. The authors highlight that the lack of standardized protocols makes it impossible to reliably compare studies — a critical obstacle to understanding how widespread microplastic contamination really is and what it means for ecosystems and human health.
Microplastics in the riverine environment: Meta-analysis and quality criteria for developing robust field sampling procedures
This meta-analysis reviews how microplastics are sampled in rivers and finds that current methods are inconsistent, making it hard to compare results across studies. Better standardized sampling approaches are needed to accurately measure how much microplastic pollution flows through rivers that supply drinking water to communities.
Riverine Plastic Pollution: Field Sampling Protocol and Implementation in U.S. Rivers
This paper presents a standardized field sampling protocol for measuring plastic pollution in U.S. rivers. Consistent methodology is essential for comparing data across studies and is designed to capture both surface and submerged plastics including microplastics in riverine systems.
Critical Assessment of Analytical Methods for the Harmonized and Cost-Efficient Analysis of Microplastics
This critical review assessed analytical methods for microplastic analysis across different matrices and developed recommendations for harmonized, cost-efficient protocols, arguing that methodological inconsistency is the primary barrier to comparable, regulatory-ready microplastic data.
Methods for sampling, processing, identification,and quantification of microplastics in the marine environment
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 in Latin America and the Caribbean: A review on current status and perspectives
This review assessed the current status of microplastic research across Latin America and the Caribbean, covering occurrence in water, sediments, and soil, as well as effects on aquatic and terrestrial organisms, and identifying key knowledge gaps in the region.