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Sampling Methods: Sample Types

Sampling Methods: Sample Types

Sampling materials are classified into three main types: solid, liquid, and gas.
Solid samples include a variety of substances, such as sediments from water bodies, soil, metals, and biological tissues. Two standard methods for extracting sediments from water bodies are grab sampling and piston coring. Grab sampling involves using a device to collect a discrete sediment sample from the bottom of a water body with minimal disturbance. Grab samples do not always represent the entire area due to...

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Updated: Nov 4, 2025

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris

Published on: July 28, 2018

Microplastic sampling techniques in freshwaters and sediments: a review.

Nastaran Razeghi¹, Amir Hossein Hamidian^1,2, Chenxi Wu^3,4

¹Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Faculty of Natural Resources, University of Tehran, P.O. Box 4314, Karaj, 31587-77878 Iran.

Environmental Chemistry Letters

|May 24, 2021

Summary

Microplastic pollution in freshwater is a growing concern. This review identifies common sampling methods for microplastics in freshwater ecosystems, highlighting areas for improvement in detection and analysis.

Keywords:

Freshwater systems Microplastic pollution Polymer Sampling Sediment Water

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Ecotoxicology
Analytical Chemistry

Background:

Microplastic pollution is a pervasive global issue, impacting ecosystems and potentially human health.
The presence and effects of microplastics in freshwater environments are not yet fully understood.
Microplastics can act as vectors for other environmental contaminants.

Purpose of the Study:

To review and identify common methods and tools for sampling microplastics in freshwater.
To assess current practices for microplastic analysis in freshwater ecosystems.
To highlight knowledge gaps and areas for methodological advancement.

Main Methods:

Systematic review of 150 investigations on microplastic sampling in freshwater.
Analysis of commonly used tools for water sampling, including manta trawls.
Evaluation of devices for sediment sampling, such as shovels, trowels, and Van Veen grabs.

Main Results:

Manta trawls are the predominant tool for surface water microplastic collection.
Shovels, trowels, spades, scoops, and spatulas are frequently used for sediment sampling.
Van Veen grabs are identified as a common tool for deep sediment sampling.

Conclusions:

Standardized and optimized methods are needed for efficient microplastic identification.
Further development is required to detect smaller microplastic particles effectively.
Advancements in sampling and analytical techniques are crucial for understanding freshwater microplastic pollution.