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Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
Published on: July 28, 2018
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Are We Underestimating Microplastic Contamination in Aquatic Environments?
Jeremy L Conkle1, Christian D Báez Del Valle2, Jeffrey W Turner3
1Department of Physical & Environmental Sciences, Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, 6300 Ocean Drive, Unit 5892, Corpus Christi, Texas, 78412, USA. jeremy.conkle@tamucc.edu.
Environmental Management
|October 19, 2017
Summary
Microplastic pollution is a major environmental concern. This study reveals that most environmental surveys underestimate microplastic contamination by not accounting for particles smaller than 300 micrometers.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Analytical Chemistry
- Materials Science
Background:
- Microplastic debris poses a significant threat to aquatic ecosystems.
- Current regulations and bans on microplastics in personal care products do not address existing environmental contamination or unregulated sources.
- Accurate quantification of microplastics is crucial for effective environmental management and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate existing methodologies for quantifying microplastics in aquatic environments.
- To characterize the concentration and size distribution of microplastics, particularly polyethylene microbeads, in personal care products.
- To inform future research and mitigation strategies for microplastic pollution.
Main Methods:
- A systematic review of 50 published aquatic surveys was conducted to assess current microplastic quantification methods.
- Analysis of 770 personal care products to determine the presence, concentration, and size distribution of polyethylene microbeads.
- Comparison of particle size data from products with detection limits used in environmental surveys.
Main Results:
- Approximately 80% of reviewed aquatic surveys focused only on microplastics ≥ 300 μm in diameter.
- Personal care products contained polyethylene microbeads at concentrations ranging from 1.9 to 71.9 mg g⁻¹.
- Over 95% of microplastic particles found in surveyed products were smaller than 300 μm.
Conclusions:
- Existing environmental microplastic surveys likely underestimate the extent of contamination due to a focus on larger particles.
- The prevalence of microplastics < 300 μm in consumer products highlights a significant, often overlooked, source of aquatic pollution.
- Future microplastic monitoring should incorporate methods capable of detecting smaller particles (< 300 μm) and microfibers to provide a more comprehensive assessment of environmental contamination.
