Size and shape matter: A preliminary analysis of microplastic sampling technique in seawater studies with implications for ecological risk assessment

Covernton, Garth A.; Pearce, Christopher M.; Gurney‐Smith, Helen; Chastain, Stephen; Ross, Peter S.; Dower, John F.; Dudas, Sarah E.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.02.346

Cited by 193 publications

(132 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…Despite only 9% of environmental studies using a mesh size that would capture particles smaller than 10 lm, 52% of laboratory studies dose with particles in that size range. A recent study suggests that environmental samples collected with mesh smaller than 100 lm in size capture concentrations of microplastics one to four orders of magnitude greater than samples collected with a standard 300 lm mesh (Covernton et al 2019). Thus, using smaller mesh sizes during environmental sampling will give a better indication of how many particles are present in nature, and inform laboratory studies that wish to dose with small particle sizes.…”

Section: A Deeper Dive Into Studies Testing the Effects Of Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is known and unknown about the effects of plastic pollution: A meta‐analysis and systematic review

Bucci

Túlio

Rochman

2020

Ecological Applications

453

263

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As a consequence of the global ubiquity of plastic pollution, scientists, decision‐makers, and the public often ask whether macroplastics (>5 mm) and microplastics (<5 mm) have a realized ecological threat. In 2016, we conducted a systematic review of the literature and made a call for further research testing hypotheses about ecological effects. In the subsequent years, the amount of relevant research has risen tremendously. Here, we reassess the literature to determine the current weight of evidence about the effects of plastic pollution across all levels of biological organization. Our data spans marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments. We extracted data from 139 lab and field studies testing 577 independent effects across a variety of taxa and with various types, sizes, and shapes of plastic. Overall, 59% of the tested effects were detected. Of these, 58% were due to microplastics and 42% were due to macroplastics. Of the effects that were not detected, 94% were from microplastics and 6% were from macroplastics. We found evidence that whether or not an effect is detected, as well as the severity and direction of the effect, is driven by dose, particle shape, polymer type, and particle size. Based on our analyses, there is no doubt that macroplastics are causing ecological effects, however, the effects of microplastics are much more complex. We also assessed the environmental relevancy of experimental studies by comparing the doses used in each exposure to the concentrations and sizes of microplastics found in the environment. We determined that only 17% of the concentrations used in experimental studies have been found in nature, and that 80% of particle sizes used in experiments fall below the size range of the majority of environmental sampling. Based on our systematic review and meta‐analysis, we make a call for future work that recognizes the complexity of microplastics and designs tests to better understand how different types, sizes, shapes, doses, and exposure durations affect wildlife. We also call for more ecologically and environmentally relevant studies, particularly in freshwater and terrestrial environments.

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Section: A Deeper Dive Into Studies Testing the Effects Of Microplasticsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What is known and unknown about the effects of plastic pollution: A meta‐analysis and systematic review

Bucci

Túlio

Rochman

2020

Ecological Applications

453

263

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“…Density of the microlitter is important for its location in the water column, but less so with smaller size (Ter Halle et al 2017). Therefore, pollution data on large microlitter cannot be used as a simple proxy for small microlitter, even though an equation for extrapolation has been suggested (Covernton et al 2019b). These findings are especially interesting, considering that the extent to which seafood organisms will be exposed to microlitter, will also depend on their location in the water column.…”

Section: Methodological Challenges In Field Studiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Surveillance of Seafood for Microplastics

Kögel¹,

Refosco²,

Maage³

2020

Handbook of Microplastics in the Environment

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Surveillance of seafood for microplastic is in high demand, but there are challenges in the establishment of appropriate methods. Even though there are more than hundred scientific publications presenting numbers about the occurrence of plastics in seafood organisms, currently, these numbers are largely not comparable and afflicted with high uncertainty. They represent rather pioneering work, than surveillance. The research field is developing rapidly, continuously challenging and updating definitions and descriptions on the location, quality and quantity of microplastic. A major reason behind those challenges is of a new type, due to the particular nature of this pollutant, as opposed to other previously analyzed pollutants, which are soluble. When dealing with particle uptake into organisms, we claim that it is pivotal to take into account the size and shape of the particles. Most often, only plastic particles above several hundred μm and only from the gastrointestinal tract were included in field studies, typically leading to observations of on average 0-3 particles per fish. However, for both seafood organisms and human health, plastic particles in edible tissue are of higher concern, than those passing through the gastrointestinal system. According to exposure studies, the size of microlitter particles that are most likely to be transported into tissue and have accumulation potential, is lower than 50 μm. The few publications investigating the smaller size classes and tissues, do detect and report microlitter contamination, and therefore, warrant further investigation. Additionally, appropriate quality control needs to be included, and measurement uncertainties assessed.

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“…In the case of nets, size fraction is often limited to 330 or 200 microns due to the water tension, fact that is thought to underestimate total MP concentrations by one to four orders of magnitude compared with samples that are filtered through much smaller mesh sizes (e.g. <100 μm) [62].…”

Section: Plos Onementioning

confidence: 99%

Pump-underway ship intake: An unexploited opportunity for Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) microplastic monitoring needs on coastal and oceanic waters

2020

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Broad scale sampling methods for microplastic monitoring in the open ocean waters remain a challenge in oceanography. A large number of samples is required to understand the distribution, abundance and fate of microplastic particles in the environment. Despite more than a decade of widespread study, there is currently no established time series of microplastic measurements and the research community is yet to establish a standardised set of methods that will allow data to be collected in a quick, affordable and interoperable way. We present a sampling technique involving the connection of a custom-built microplastic sampling device to the pump-underway ship intake system of a research vessel (RV) as an unexploited opportunity for oceanic monitoring needs concerning microplastic abundance and distribution. The method is cost effective, highly versatile and accurate, and is able to sample particles down to 50μm from opportunity platforms, thus contributing to an emerging area of study, and in particular helping to increase the monitoring reporting of data, and thereby serving as a valuable aid for the implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Sampling was performed during three consecutive oceanographic cruises in the subtropical NE Atlantic over a year, sampling subsurface waters (4 m depth) during navigation and while on coastal and oceanic stations. Microplastic particles were found in all stations and transects sampled. Fibres (64.42%) were predominant over fragments (35.58%), with the concentration values falling within the ranges of data reported for other areas of the Atlantic.

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Size and shape matter: A preliminary analysis of microplastic sampling technique in seawater studies with implications for ecological risk assessment

Cited by 193 publications

References 42 publications

What is known and unknown about the effects of plastic pollution: A meta‐analysis and systematic review

What is known and unknown about the effects of plastic pollution: A meta‐analysis and systematic review

Surveillance of Seafood for Microplastics

Pump-underway ship intake: An unexploited opportunity for Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) microplastic monitoring needs on coastal and oceanic waters

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