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

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 208 of the 209 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

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.

Overview

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Crossref · 10.1177/0003702820945713

Cites

208 of 208 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

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Research works printed but not linked: 3

  1. Lusher A.L., App. Spectrosc
  2. Moore C.J., 2011, J. Integra. Coastal Zone Manag, 11, 65
  3. Pauly J.L., 1998, Cancer Epidemiol. Biomarkers Prev, 7, 419

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Metadata

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
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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