Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

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.

2019 Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry 112 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2021 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 45 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A Systematic Review of Microplastic Detection in Water

This systematic review summarizes current methods for detecting microplastics in water sources. The research highlights significant challenges in accurately measuring these tiny plastic particles, with different techniques yielding very different results. Better detection methods are essential for understanding how much microplastic is present in the water people drink and use daily.

2024 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of methods for measuring microplastics in aquatic environments

This review critically evaluates methods used to measure microplastics in aquatic environments, covering sampling design, sample processing, and spectroscopic identification, and identifies the most significant sources of methodological variation. Standardizing these methods is essential for generating comparable data across studies and enabling robust environmental risk assessment.

2018 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 361 citations
Article Tier 2

A Review of Analytical Methods Used in Microplastics Quantification

This review evaluates the various analytical methods used to detect and quantify microplastics in the environment, highlighting inconsistencies in sampling and analysis across studies. Standardizing methods is a critical priority for the field, as inconsistent approaches make it difficult to compare results and track pollution trends over time.

2021 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A standard analytical approach and establishing criteria for microplastic concentrations in wastewater, drinking water and tap water

This study proposes standardized methods and concentration benchmarks for measuring microplastics in wastewater, drinking water, and tap water. The researchers found that current studies use widely varying techniques, making it difficult to compare results or set safety limits. Establishing consistent measurement standards is a critical first step toward determining what levels of microplastics in drinking water may pose risks to human health.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of different methods for MP detection: What can we learn from them, and why asking the right question before measurements matters?

This comparative study evaluated several different analytical methods for detecting and measuring microplastics, finding that the choice of method significantly affects results. The authors emphasize that choosing the right method depends on the specific research question, and that standardization is essential for comparing data across studies.

2017 Environmental Pollution 374 citations
Article Tier 2

Extraction and analytical methods of microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: Isolation patterns, quantification, and size characterization techniques

This review summarizes the different methods scientists use to find, measure, and identify microplastics in wastewater treatment plants. It found 12 distinct sample processing approaches and three categories of analytical techniques currently in use, but no single standardized method exists. The lack of consistent methods makes it hard to compare results across studies and fully understand how much microplastic enters the environment through treated wastewater.

2024 Desalination and Water Treatment 26 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Oceanography in Japan 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Method development for microplastic analysis in wastewater

This book chapter describes methods developed to detect and measure microplastics in wastewater samples, addressing the lack of standardized analytical protocols. Reliable detection methods are essential because wastewater treatment plants are a major pathway through which land-based microplastics enter aquatic environments.

2020 IWA Publishing eBooks 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Method development for microplastic analysis in wastewater

This chapter reviews methods for analyzing microplastics in wastewater, comparing techniques for extraction, identification, and quantification. Standardized methods are essential for producing comparable data across studies and tracking microplastic contamination over time.

2019 IWA Publishing eBooks 1 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: A literature review of sampling methods and results

This review chapter summarizes sampling methods and reported microplastic concentrations in wastewater treatment plants across multiple studies. The review highlights wide variation in reported results and calls for standardized monitoring methods to enable meaningful comparisons of microplastic removal efficiency across different treatment facilities.

2020 IWA Publishing eBooks
Article Tier 2

Factors Controlling Microplastic Concentrations and Polymer Profiles in Wastewater, Storm Water, and Surface Water

A critical review of 143 studies found that microplastic concentrations in wastewater span eight orders of magnitude, with the highest levels in the smallest particle size fractions, while polyethylene and polypropylene are the most commonly detected polymers across freshwater systems. The wide variation is largely an artifact of inconsistent sampling, extraction, and analytical methods, making direct comparisons between studies unreliable and complicating decisions about water treatment and regulation.

2023 Proceedings of the Water Environment Federation
Article Tier 2

A Critical Review of Extraction and Identification Methods of Microplastics in Wastewater and Drinking Water

This critical review of methods for detecting microplastics in wastewater and drinking water identifies major inconsistencies in sample collection, processing, and characterization across studies, making it difficult to compare reported concentrations. A five-criteria ranking system is proposed to evaluate the quality and completeness of microplastics studies.

2020 Environmental Science & Technology 224 citations
Review Tier 2

A review of methods for the isolation of microplastics in municipal wastewater treatment

This review summarizes methods used to isolate and quantify microplastics from municipal wastewater treatment plants, identifying inconsistencies in sampling and analysis protocols that make it difficult to compare results across studies.

2022 Technical Transactions 6 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 33 citations
Article Tier 2

How can we trace microplastics in wastewater treatment plants: A review of the current knowledge on their analysis approaches

This review critically evaluates the analytical methods used to detect microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, covering sampling strategies, extraction and purification procedures, and identification techniques including spectroscopy. The authors highlight a lack of standardized methods as the primary challenge limiting accurate and comparable measurements across studies.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Intercomparison study on commonly used methods to determine microplastics in wastewater and sludge samples

An intercomparison study of common microplastic analysis methods for wastewater and sludge found substantial variability in results between laboratories, highlighting the urgent need for standardized protocols to enable reliable comparisons.

2019 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 154 citations
Article Tier 2

A critical view on microplastic quantification in aquatic organisms

Researchers critically reviewed the methods used to quantify microplastics in aquatic organisms including zooplankton, bivalves, and fish. The study highlights that no standardized methodology exists for measuring microplastic contamination in biota, which makes comparing results across studies difficult and underscores the need for consistent analytical protocols.

2015 Environmental Research 463 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling Microplastics in Water Matrices: A Need for Standardization

This viewpoint highlights the lack of standardized sampling methods for measuring microplastics in water, arguing that inconsistencies in equipment, mesh size, and protocols make results across studies incomparable and calling for harmonized international standards to enable meaningful monitoring and regulatory decisions.

2022 ACS ES&T Water 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of the Microplastics Content in Natural Waters and Sediments: Sampling and Sample Preparation

This review examines the challenges of sampling and preparing water and sediment samples for microplastic analysis, highlighting the lack of standardized methods. Researchers found that differences in collection techniques, sample volumes, and processing steps make it difficult to compare results across studies. The study calls for an internationally agreed-upon analytical framework to improve the reliability and consistency of microplastic monitoring worldwide.

2024 Journal of Analytical Chemistry 9 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics in Wastewater Treatment Plants: A literature review of sampling methods and results

This literature review summarizes sampling methods and results from studies on microplastics in wastewater treatment plants, comparing approaches and findings across multiple studies. The review is part of a broader book on microplastics in the human water cycle.

2019 IWA Publishing eBooks
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Monitoring Technologies and Methods for Micro Plastics in Water as Novel Pollutants

This review surveys the range of technologies currently available for detecting and monitoring microplastics in water, including spectroscopic, microscopic, and chemical identification methods, outlining the strengths and limitations of each. Consistent and effective monitoring is identified as essential for controlling microplastic pollution, yet no single approach yet meets all needs across diverse water types and concentrations. The paper calls for stronger monitoring frameworks to support both research and regulatory decision-making on microplastic contamination.

2024 Scalable Computing Practice and Experience 2 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Журнал аналитической химии