We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Tackling plastic pollution together: Examples of international collaboration for the monitoring and reporting of microlitter (including microplastics).
ClearTackling plastic pollution together: Examples of international collaboration for the monitoring and reporting of microlitter (including microplastics).
Researchers described international laboratory networks established through the UK's Commonwealth Litter Programme (CLiP) and Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) to build scientific capacity for microplastic and marine litter monitoring in Global South countries. The study presents examples of cross-border collaboration that provided infrastructure, training, and standardised methodologies to enable partner nations to produce reproducible and comparable data on plastic pollution entering the oceans.
Creation of an international laboratory network towards global microplastics monitoring harmonisation
International programs established a network of microplastics research laboratories across Global South countries, providing standardized equipment, training, and protocols. This effort aims to build local scientific capacity and ensure that microplastic monitoring data from different regions can be meaningfully compared, which is essential for understanding the true global scale of plastic pollution.
A field and laboratory manual for sampling, processing and reporting microplastics in coastal and marine environments
This paper presents a comprehensive, standardized field and laboratory guideline for sampling, processing, and reporting microplastics in coastal and marine environments, developed through international collaboration. The harmonized protocols aim to improve comparability of data across global monitoring programmes.
Joint effort among research infrastructures to quantify the impact of plastic debris in the ocean
This collaborative overview coordinated monitoring of marine plastic debris across multiple research infrastructures, finding widespread and persistent contamination and calling for harmonized international observation protocols.
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.
IAEA-NUTEC Plastics Initiative: Advancing Global Understanding of Microplastic Pollution in the Ocean
This study describes the IAEA-NUTEC Plastics initiative, which is establishing a coordinated network of laboratories in over 100 countries to implement standardized microplastic sampling and analysis protocols, using radiometric and advanced technologies to improve the accuracy and cross-regional comparability of ocean microplastic data.
Insights into technical challenges in the field of microplastic pollution through the lens of early career researchers (ECRs) and a proposed pathway forward
A network of early-career microplastic researchers from the UK and China identified the major technical barriers holding back the field: difficulty obtaining representative samples, lack of access to clean labs and standardized equipment, poor comparability of data across studies, and insufficient training. The paper proposes practical solutions including open-access databases, shared training resources, and broader international collaboration. Addressing these infrastructure gaps is important because the quality and comparability of microplastic pollution data directly affects our ability to assess environmental and health risks.
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.
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.
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.
Collaboration and infrastructure is needed to develop an African perspective on micro(nano)plastic pollution
This perspective argues that understanding micro(nano)plastic pollution requires pan-African research networks and infrastructure, as current knowledge is dominated by studies from wealthier nations while low- and middle-income countries bear disproportionate impacts from mismanaged plastic waste.
Identifying opportunities for harmonized microplastics and mesoplastics monitoring for Caribbean Small Island Developing States using a spatiotemporal assessment of beaches in South Eleuthera, The Bahamas
Researchers assessed microplastic and mesoplastic pollution across 16 beaches with different coastal exposures in the Bahamas, finding that microplastics were the dominant debris type at 74 percent of samples, with significant differences between locations and seasons. The study highlights that Caribbean Small Island Developing States lack standardized monitoring protocols for microplastic pollution, leaving them without the data needed to participate effectively in global treaty negotiations. The findings point toward opportunities for developing harmonized monitoring approaches across the Caribbean region.
Guidelines for the monitoring and assessment of plastic litter and microplastics in the ocean.
This GESAMP report provides comprehensive guidelines for monitoring and assessing plastic litter and microplastics in the ocean, including sampling methods, quality assurance protocols, and reporting standards. Standardized guidelines are essential for generating comparable data across global monitoring programs and informing effective policy responses.
A 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.
A 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.
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.
Results of WEPAL-QUASIMEME/NORMANs first global interlaboratory study on microplastics reveal urgent need for harmonization
The first global interlaboratory study on microplastic determination revealed high variability in results across 34 participating laboratories, highlighting the urgent need for harmonized methods, certified reference materials, and standardized reporting to enable meaningful data comparisons.
Methods for Studying Microplastic Pollution in Natural Waters: Current State and Recommendations
This methodological review addresses the lack of standardization in how scientists sample, process, and report microplastic contamination in natural waters, which makes it nearly impossible to compare results across studies. It details quality assurance and quality control steps — especially important given how easily tiny plastic particles contaminate samples from the lab environment itself — and provides concrete recommendations for sampling protocols and data reporting. Harmonizing these methods is a critical step toward building a reliable global database of microplastic pollution.
Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods. Version 1.1.
This report provides guidelines for harmonizing ocean surface microplastic monitoring methods to allow better comparison of results across different studies. Without standardized approaches, the diversity of sampling and measurement techniques makes it nearly impossible to track global microplastic trends reliably.
Increasing our understanding of coastal microplastics and mesoplastics: a comparison of sampling methodologies using volunteer researchers
Researchers compared three different methods for sampling coastal microplastic and mesoplastic pollution using trained volunteers at three locations in southern England. They found that one citizen science method, the Big Microplastic Survey, consistently detected more plastic pollution and fewer zero counts than the other approaches. The study underscores the challenge of standardizing sampling methods and the importance of enabling meaningful comparisons across global monitoring efforts.
Towards uniform metrological processes for the characterization and analysis of microplastics?
This study examines the lack of standardization across the multi-step analytical process for marine microplastic characterization -- from sampling through sample preparation to spectroscopic analysis -- highlighting how qualitative and quantitative variability between laboratories hinders the development of reliable numerical models for plastic transport in oceanographic flows.
Innovative reference materials for method validation in microplastic analysis including interlaboratory comparison exercises
Researchers developed innovative reference materials for validating microplastic analysis methods, presenting interlaboratory comparison results that support quality assurance and standardization in the growing field of microplastic detection.
Reporting Marine Microplastics Data: the Need for a Standardized Protocol
This paper argues for standardized protocols for reporting marine microplastic data, noting that inconsistent methods across studies make it impossible to compare results or track pollution trends globally. The authors reviewed existing guidelines and proposed a minimum set of variables that should be reported in all marine microplastic studies. Standardization is urgently needed to enable policy-relevant monitoring of ocean plastic contamination.
Method for Quantifying and Characterization of Microplastics in Sand Beaches
This paper proposes a standardized method for sampling and characterizing microplastics in beach sand to improve comparability across studies. Consistent methodology is critical because current variation in field and lab techniques makes it difficult to combine or compare data from different research groups.