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Protocol for Microplastics Sampling on the Sea Surface and Sample Analysis
Published on: December 16, 2016
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Microplastics in China Sea: Analysis, status, source, and fate
Qian Wang1, Chunya Guan1, Jie Han2
1School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
The Science of the Total Environment
|September 6, 2021
Summary
Microplastic pollution in the China Sea is a growing concern, with widespread presence in seawater, sediment, and biota. Standardizing sampling and analysis methods is crucial for effective marine plastic pollution control.
Area of Science:
- Marine Biology
- Environmental Science
- Chemical Oceanography
Background:
- Microplastic (MP) pollution is a significant global environmental issue.
- China's role as a major plastic producer amplifies concerns regarding MP pollution in its surrounding marine environments.
- Existing research on MPs in the China Sea covers seawater, sediment, and biota, highlighting the need for comprehensive understanding.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and summarize available information on microplastics in the China Sea.
- To analyze the status and limitations of current sampling and analytical methods for MPs.
- To characterize the abundance, size, shape, polymer type, sources, and fates of MPs in the China Sea.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on microplastic sampling and analysis in the China Sea.
- Summarization of sampling methods including tools, volume, and depth.
- Outline of analytical techniques such as sieving, density separation, purification, filtration, and visual sorting.
- Analysis of MP characteristics: abundance, size, shape, polymer type, source, and fate.
Main Results:
- Microplastic abundances in the China Sea range from 0.1 to 27,840.0 items m⁻³ in seawater and 13.0 to 14,712.0 items kg⁻¹ d.w. in sediments.
- Predominant MP characteristics include sizes from 0.001 to 0.5 mm, transparent and black colors, and polymer types of polypropylene and polyethylene.
- Sampling and analytical methods for MPs in the China Sea lack standardization, necessitating improvement.
Conclusions:
- Standardization of sampling and analytical methods is essential to advance research on microplastic pollution in the China Sea.
- While regulations exist for plastic waste management, further actions are needed.
- Recommendations include source control, technological innovation, reduced disposable plastic use, and enhanced international cooperation for marine plastic waste treatment.
