TY - JOUR
T1 - Microplastics in Freshwater Biota
T2 - A Critical Review of Isolation, Characterization, and Assessment Methods
AU - O'Connor, James D.
AU - Mahon, Anne Marie
AU - Ramsperger, Anja F.R.M.
AU - Trotter, Benjamin
AU - Redondo-Hasselerharm, Paula E.
AU - Koelmans, Albert A.
AU - Lally, Heather T.
AU - Murphy, Sinéad
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 The Authors. Published by WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.
PY - 2020/6
Y1 - 2020/6
N2 - Freshwater systems provide key pathways for microplastic (MP) pollution, and although existing studies have demonstrated the susceptibility of freshwater biota to ingestion, translocation, and trophic transfer, specific challenges pertaining to methodological standardization remain largely unresolved, particularly with respect to isolating, characterizing, and assessing MPs. Here, a critical review is performed outlining the challenges and limitations currently faced by freshwater MP researchers, which may well apply across the MP research spectrum. Recommendations are provided for methodological standardization, particularly in MP characterization, quality assurance, and quality control (QA/QC) procedures as well as reporting. Considerations for the assessment of MPs in freshwater biota as a means of improving comparisons between studies are discussed. Technological advancements, including the improvement of laboratory infrastructure for identifying MPs within the smaller size range as well as methodological standardization are essential in providing policy makers with tools and measures necessary to determine the distribution of MPs within freshwater ecosystems, while also allowing for comparability and providing compliance for future monitoring requirements.
AB - Freshwater systems provide key pathways for microplastic (MP) pollution, and although existing studies have demonstrated the susceptibility of freshwater biota to ingestion, translocation, and trophic transfer, specific challenges pertaining to methodological standardization remain largely unresolved, particularly with respect to isolating, characterizing, and assessing MPs. Here, a critical review is performed outlining the challenges and limitations currently faced by freshwater MP researchers, which may well apply across the MP research spectrum. Recommendations are provided for methodological standardization, particularly in MP characterization, quality assurance, and quality control (QA/QC) procedures as well as reporting. Considerations for the assessment of MPs in freshwater biota as a means of improving comparisons between studies are discussed. Technological advancements, including the improvement of laboratory infrastructure for identifying MPs within the smaller size range as well as methodological standardization are essential in providing policy makers with tools and measures necessary to determine the distribution of MPs within freshwater ecosystems, while also allowing for comparability and providing compliance for future monitoring requirements.
KW - analytical methods
KW - biomonitoring
KW - invertebrates
KW - plastics
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85173978887&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1002/gch2.201800118
DO - 10.1002/gch2.201800118
M3 - Review article
AN - SCOPUS:85173978887
SN - 2056-6646
VL - 4
JO - Global Challenges
JF - Global Challenges
IS - 6
M1 - 1800118
ER -