Cited by 389Microplastics and Plastic PollutionAnalytical chemistry methods developmentEnvironmental and Analytical Chemistry Studies

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Sampling and Quality Assurance and Quality Control: A Guide for Scientists Investigating the Occurrence of Microplastics Across Matrices

Brander, Susanne M., Renick, Violet C., Foley, Melissa M., Steele, Clare, Woo, Mary, Lusher, Amy, Carr, Steve, Helm, Paul, Box, Carolynn, Cherniak, Sam, Andrews, Robert C., Rochman, Chelsea M.·2020·Applied Spectroscopy

DOI 10.1177/0003702820945713

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Abstract

Plastic pollution is a defining environmental contaminant and is considered to be one of the greatest environmental threats of the Anthropocene, with its presence documented across aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. The majority of this plastic debris falls into the micro (1 μm–5 mm) or nano (1–1000 nm) size range and comes from primary and secondary sources. Its small size makes it cumbersome to isolate and analyze reproducibly, and its ubiquitous distribution creates numerous challenges when controlling for background contamination across matrices (e.g., sediment, tissue, water, air). Although research on microplastics represents a relatively nascent subfield, burgeoning interest in questions surrounding the fate and effects of these debris items creates a pressing need for harmonized sampling protocols and quality control approaches. For results across laboratories to be reproducible and comparable, it is imperative that guidelines based on vetted protocols be readily available to research groups, many of which are either new to plastics research or, as with any new subfield, have arrived at current approaches through a process of trial-and-error rather than in consultation with the greater scientific community. The goals of this manuscript are to (i) outline the steps necessary to conduct general as well as matrix-specific quality assurance and quality control based on sample type and associated constraints, (ii) briefly review current findings across matrices, and (iii) provide guidance for the design of sampling regimes. Specific attention is paid to the source of microplastic pollution as well as the pathway by which contamination occurs, with details provided regarding each step in the process from generating appropriate questions to sampling design and collection.

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Authors: Brander, S. M., Renick, V. C., Foley, M. M., Steele, C., Woo, M., Lusher, A., Carr, S., Helm, P., Box, C., Cherniak, S., Andrews, R. C., & Rochman, C. M.
Affiliations: Oregon State University (US)
Environmental Services Department, Orange County Sanitation District, Fountain Valley, USA
San Francisco Estuary Institute (US)
California State University, Channel Islands (US)
Norwegian Institute for Water Research (NO)
San Jose Creek Water Quality Laboratory, County Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles, Whittier, USA
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (CA)
The 5 Gyres Institute, Los Angeles, USA
Department of Civil and Mineral Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
University of Toronto (CA)
Corresponding author: Brander, Susanne M.
ORCID: Brander, Susanne M.
Renick, Violet C.
Foley, Melissa M.
Steele, Clare
Lusher, Amy
Helm, Paul
Cherniak, Sam
Andrews, Robert C.
Rochman, Chelsea M.
Venue: Applied Spectroscopy
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Published: 2020-09
Volume: 74
Issue: 9
Pages: 1099-1125
ISSN: 0003-7028 (ISSN-L)
1943-3530
DOI: 10.1177/0003702820945713
OpenAlex: W3041758622
Cited by: 389
References: 209
Citations by year: 2026: 68 · 2025: 54 · 2024: 75 · 2023: 67 · 2022: 70 · 2021: 44 · 2020: 11
FWCI: 11.79
Type: journal article
Language: en
Open access: closed
Licence: www.sagepub.com/licence-information-for-chorus (vor, 385 d)
Locations: Applied Spectroscopy (publishedVersion)
PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders: NOAA Marine Debris Research (#NA17NOS9990025)
Oregon Agricultural Research Foundation
National Science Foundation (GCR-1935028)
Topics: Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
Physical Sciences › Chemistry › Analytical Chemistry › Analytical chemistry methods development
Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Water Science and Technology › Environmental and Analytical Chemistry Studies
Keywords: microplastics, sampling protocols, quality assurance, quality control, plastic pollution, background contamination, sampling design, sediment, tissues, water, air, reproducibility, contamination pathways
MeSH terms: Microplastics, Environmental Monitoring, Environmental Pollutants, Quality Control, Specimen Handling, Guidelines as Topic

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Sampling and Quality Assurance and Quality Control: A Guide for Scientists Investigating the Occurrence of Microplastics Across Matrices

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