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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Examining sampling protocols for microplastics on recreational trails
ClearMicroplastic pollution on hiking and running trails in Australian protected environments
This study detected and characterized microplastics on hiking and trail running routes in Australian protected natural areas, finding that footwear and clothing shed significant quantities of synthetic microplastic fibers onto trails in ecologically sensitive environments.
Plastics on the rocks: the invisible but harmful footprint of shoe soles
This study found that shoe soles worn on a short mountain hiking trail shed significant quantities of microplastic particles, contaminating the path and surrounding vegetation. The finding reveals that recreational outdoor activities are an overlooked source of microplastic pollution even in protected natural areas.
Microplastic surface retention and mobility on hiking trails
Researchers simulated heavy rainfall on hiking trail surfaces and measured the mobility of microplastic particles deposited by trail users, finding that rainfall can transport deposited microplastics off trails and into adjacent soil and waterways, extending the environmental footprint of trail recreation.
Trail running events contribute microplastic pollution to conservation and wilderness areas
Using before-after-control-impact sampling at a trail running event in an Australian conservation area, researchers found that the event significantly increased microplastic concentrations on trails compared to control sites, with synthetic clothing and footwear identified as the primary sources.
An Examination of Microplastic Pollution in Protected Areas from Outdoor Recreation
Microplastics were found in soils from protected natural areas frequently visited by outdoor recreationists, suggesting that even conservation lands and wilderness parks are not insulated from plastic pollution carried in by human visitors.
Microplastic on Mountain Trails—a Case Study from the Carpathian and Sudetes Mountains in Poland
Researchers sampled snow along three mountain trails in Poland's Carpathian and Sudetes ranges and found high levels of microplastic contamination, with polyurethane, PET, polyethylene, and polypropylene being most common. More heavily trafficked and easier trails showed higher microplastic concentrations than remote, more difficult ones, suggesting visitor activity and gear wear are significant sources. This study extends evidence that microplastic pollution has reached remote mountain environments far from industrial or urban centers.
Microplastic pollution in water environment of typical nature reserves and scenery districts in southern China
Researchers measured microplastic abundance and polymer composition in water from 11 nature reserves and scenic districts in southern China, detecting microplastics in all samples with variation related to proximity to human activities. The findings fill a knowledge gap on microplastic contamination in protected natural areas and reveal that even remote reserves are not free from plastic pollution.
Microplastics pollution and risk assessment in water bodies of two nature reserves in Jilin Province: Correlation analysis with the degree of human activity
Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the waters of two nature reserves in northeastern China and found contamination at all sampling sites, with abundances correlated to the degree of nearby human activity. Fiber-shaped microplastics were the most prevalent type, and risk assessment indicated moderate ecological concern in some areas. The study demonstrates that even protected natural areas are not immune to microplastic pollution, particularly when human activities occur nearby.
Assessment of microplastic content in natural waters and sediments: sampling and sample preparation
Researchers reviewed and evaluated sampling and analytical methods for measuring microplastic content in natural waters and sediments, assessing sources of error and variability in current approaches. The review recommended a standardized protocol to improve cross-study comparability.
Cross-Contamination as a Problem in Collection and Analysis of Environmental Samples Containing Microplastics—A Review
This review examines cross-contamination as a systematic problem in microplastic research, finding that synthetic fibers from clothing, laboratory plastics, and airborne particles can contaminate samples during collection and analysis, and reviewing methods to minimize and account for procedural contamination.
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.
Quantifying, and assessing the impact of, microplastics in terrestrial samples
Researchers aimed to develop effective methodologies for quantifying and assessing the ecological impact of microplastics (1-1000 µm) in terrestrial environments such as woodlands, which have been understudied compared to aquatic and sediment systems. The study sought to fill knowledge gaps about microplastic concentrations and effects in terrestrial ecosystems to inform policy development.
Microplastics in Natural Water: Sources and Determination
This paper reviews the sources of microplastic pollution in aquatic environments and the analytical methods used to characterize and quantify microplastic particles, covering sampling, extraction, and identification techniques relevant to freshwater and marine monitoring.
Microplastics as an emerging hazard to terrestrial and marine ecosystems: Sources, Occurrence and Analytical Methods
This review summarized the sources, occurrence, and detection methods for microplastics across multiple environmental compartments, noting that methodological limitations make comparison across studies difficult. The review calls for standardized analytical approaches to better quantify global microplastic contamination.
Microplastics in the Environment
This chapter examines microplastic pollution sources by integrating methods to distinguish natural from anthropogenic origins, providing a comprehensive exploration of microplastic distribution pathways and the analytical approaches used for source identification.
Are we contaminating our samples? A preliminary study to investigate procedural contamination during field sampling and processing for microplastic and anthropogenic microparticles
A pilot study investigated procedural contamination during field sampling and laboratory processing of water samples for microplastics, finding that synthetic clothing and air exposure during processing introduced measurable levels of synthetic fibers into samples, arguing for standardized contamination controls.
Source and Route of Microplastics in Terrestrial, Atmospheric, and Aquatic Environments, and Effects of Microplastics on Organisms
This review summarizes the sources, transport routes, and ecological effects of microplastics across terrestrial, atmospheric, and aquatic environments, highlighting how trophic transfer through food chains can ultimately lead to human ingestion.
An Introduction to Microplastics, and Its Sampling Processes and Assessment Techniques
This book chapter introduces microplastics — their definitions, environmental prevalence, and health risks — and surveys current methods for collecting and analyzing environmental samples. It serves as a practical primer on sampling and detection techniques, which is foundational for standardizing the science needed to assess human and ecological exposure.
Temporal and spatial distribution of microplastics in green infrastructures: Rain gardens
Researchers measured temporal and spatial distribution of microplastics in green areas including parks and urban forests, finding particles across all sampled sites with concentration patterns influenced by proximity to roads, human activity, and atmospheric deposition. The results indicate that even urban green spaces are not free from microplastic contamination.
Parks and Recreational Areas as Sinks of Plastic Debris in Urban Sites: The Case of Light-Density Microplastics in the City of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Researchers found that parks and recreational areas in Amsterdam act as significant sinks for light-density microplastics, with artificial turf infill, tire rubber, and film fragments as dominant types, suggesting urban green spaces accumulate substantial plastic pollution from recreational and maintenance activities.
Microplastics in freshwater sediment: A review on methods, occurrence, and sources
This review synthesizes methods, occurrence data, and sources of microplastics in freshwater sediments, comparing approaches and providing recommendations for standardized sampling and analysis to fill knowledge gaps relative to marine research.
Some problems and practicalities in design and interpretation of samples of microplastic waste
This methods paper identifies key problems in the design and interpretation of microplastic waste sampling programs, offering practical suggestions to improve sampling strategies and ensure more reliable and comparable results across studies.
Microplastics in Stormwater: Sampling and Methodology Challenges
Stormwater runoff washes microplastics from roads, lawns, and urban surfaces directly into streams and rivers, but measuring this pathway consistently has been hampered by a lack of standardized sampling methods. This study collected stormwater sediment samples from control measures across multiple U.S. regions and found that conventional sampling tools designed for chemical contaminants are poorly suited for capturing the full range of microplastic sizes and shapes. The results call for purpose-built sampling protocols for stormwater microplastics to improve the reliability of pollution monitoring.
Exploring microplastic pollution from origin to environmental impact and remediation approaches
This review provides a comprehensive assessment of microplastic pollution, covering their sources from synthetic textiles, cosmetics, and packaging to their fate in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The study critically examines detection techniques, structural and chemical classification methods, and the health risks microplastics pose to organisms including humans.