Issue 9, 2017

Sampling, isolating and identifying microplastics ingested by fish and invertebrates

Abstract

Microplastic debris (<5 mm) is a prolific environmental pollutant, found worldwide in marine, freshwater and terrestrial ecosystems. Interactions between biota and microplastics are prevalent, and there is growing evidence that microplastics can incite significant health effects in exposed organisms. To date, the methods used to quantify such interactions have varied greatly between studies. Here, we critically review methods for sampling, isolating and identifying microplastics ingested by environmentally and laboratory exposed fish and invertebrates. We aim to draw attention to the strengths and weaknesses of the suite of published microplastic extraction and enumeration techniques. Firstly, we highlight the risk of microplastic losses and accumulation during biotic sampling and storage, and suggest protocols for mitigating contamination in the field and laboratory. We evaluate a suite of methods for extracting microplastics ingested by biota, including dissection, depuration, digestion and density separation. Lastly, we consider the applicability of visual identification and chemical analyses in categorising microplastics. We discuss the urgent need for the standardisation of protocols to promote consistency in data collection and analysis. Harmonized methods will allow for more accurate assessment of the impacts and risks microplastics pose to biota and increase comparability between studies.

Graphical abstract: Sampling, isolating and identifying microplastics ingested by fish and invertebrates

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Critical Review
Submitted
27 Aug 2016
Accepted
22 Oct 2016
First published
24 Oct 2016
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY license

Anal. Methods, 2017,9, 1346-1360

Sampling, isolating and identifying microplastics ingested by fish and invertebrates

A. L. Lusher, N. A. Welden, P. Sobral and M. Cole, Anal. Methods, 2017, 9, 1346 DOI: 10.1039/C6AY02415G

This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Unported Licence. You can use material from this article in other publications without requesting further permissions from the RSC, provided that the correct acknowledgement is given.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements