| Filtering Criteria: Media | Filtering Criteria: Particle Size Range | |||||||||||||||||
| Surface Water | Wastewater | Stormwater | Drinking Water | Groundwater | Soil | Sediment | Biosolids | Pore Water | Air | Biota | All Size Fractions | Limited Size Fractions | Sample Method | Description | Equipment | Advantages | Considerations / Disadvantages | Relative Cost |
| X | X | X | X | Grab (Water Body)
|
Submerge sample bottle/pail directly off the side of a boat or at edge of water body | Stainless steel pails, if desired
Telescopic sampling pole, waders, or boat, if desired Sample |
Easy to collect
Minimal sampling equipment needed Lower likelihood of cross-contamination |
Low sample volume, resulting in discrete sample result | Low | |||||||||
| X | X | X | X | Field-Filtered Grab (Water Body)
|
Collect sample from water body surface using telescopic sampling pole, stainless steel bucket, or submerged sample container Pour sample through stainless-steel sieves for filtration Cover sieves with (Leslie et al. 2017, Magni et al. 2019, Murphy et al. 2016, Tagg et al. 2015) |
Telescopic sampling pole or stainless-steel bucket, if desired
Stainless-steel sieves Aluminum Sample container |
Easy to collect
Provides more representative sample than basic grab sample due to larger sample |
Moderate sample volume (typically 10-30 L), resulting in discrete sample result
Potential for sample Moderately time and labor intensive depending on Size range is limited by filter size |
Low to Moderate | |||||||||
| X | X | X | Grab (Water Utility)
|
Fill sample container directly from drinking water source or treatment plant raw water inlet or treated water outflow |
Sample container | Easy to collect
Minimal sampling equipment required Lower likelihood of cross-contamination |
Low sample volume, resulting in discrete sample result | Low | ||||||||||
| X | X | X | Time-Integrated Grab (Water Utility)
|
Fill sample container directly from drinking water source or treatment plant raw water inlet or treated water outflow Collect samples every 8 hours over a 24-hour period |
Sample containers | Easy to collect
Provides a more representative result using multiple grab samples collected over an |
Moderately time and labor intensive | Low to Moderate | ||||||||||
| X | X | X | X | Volumetric Reduction with Net
|
Drag net behind boat or place in flowing water (typical durations 15 to 60 minutes)
Measure water Rinse collected material from net into stainless steel pan/ sample container (Eriksen et al. 2013, Free et al. 2014, Lenaker et al. 2019, Sutton et al. 2016) |
Neuston net, ring net, or manta trawl (for water surface); bongo net (for water column)
Water Boat, depending on location Stainless steel pan Sample |
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting in a more representative concentration
Can target specific |
Potential for sample contamination from net fibers, from incomplete net decontamination between sampling, from ambient air during sample processing, or from rinse water Sample processing is time consuming and Size range limited by net mesh size (typically 333 um) |
Moderate to High | |||||||||
| X | X | Volumetric Reduction with Net (Autonomous Drone)
|
Portable drone autonomously samples a user-defined area, dragging manta-style net
Measure water velocity Rinse collected material from net into stainless steel pan/ sample container |
Portable autonomous drone, with manta-style net
Boat, depending on location Stainless steel Sample container |
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting in a more representative concentration | Potential for sample contamination from net fibers, from incomplete net decontamination between sampling, from ambient air during sample processing, or from rinse water Sample processing is time consuming and Size range limited by net mesh size (typically 333 um) |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | X | X | X | Volumetric Reduction with Sieves
|
Install/submerge piping/tubing to desired sample depth
Pump water through flow meter and record flow Direct water flow through stainless steel sieves Cover sieves with aluminum foil |
Pump
Flow meter Piping/tubing (ideally non- polymer-based material, such as copper Stainless steel sieves (355, 125, 63, and 43 µm) Aluminum foil |
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting in a more representative concentration
Can target specific Can install sampling system set-up for routine sampling Relatively easy to |
Large volume needed (400 – 1,400 gallons)
Upfront sample system set-up required More sampling Potential for sample contamination from ambient air during sample Size range limited by sieve size |
Moderate to High | ||||||||
| X | X | Volumetric Reduction with Sieves (Submerged)
|
Install sampling device placed at desired sampling point in wastewater treatment plant
Allow water to Cover sieves with aluminum foil for transport to lab for (Dyachenko, Mitchell, and Arsem 2017, Sutton et al. 2016, Ziajahromi et al. 2017) |
Stainless steel sieves installed inside a cover
Water velocity measurement device, if Aluminum foil |
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting in a more representative concentration
Can target specific Can install sampling system set-up for routine sampling Relatively easy to |
Large volume needed (typically 1,500 gallons)
Upfront sample system set-up required More Size range limited by sieve size |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | X | Volumetric Reduction with In-Line Filters
|
Install stainless-steel filters/containment to inlet tube attached directly to a water tap or hydrant Filter drinking water samples in parallel through filter |
Stainless steel filters placed in custom modified stainless steel filter holders attached via stainless steel pipes Sample containers |
In-line filtration minimizes potential for contamination
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting Can install sampling system set-up for routine Relatively easy to collect once sampling set-up is installed |
Large volume needed (200-1,100 liters)
Upfront sample system set-up required Size range |
Moderate | ||||||||||
| X | X | Grab (Stormwater)
|
Submerge sample container beneath flowing water surface at center of stormwater outfall
Allow water If sampling for compliance with National Pollutant Discharge Record sampling conditions (e.g., precipitation event intensity, presence of |
Telescopic sampling pole, if desired
Sample container |
Easy to collect
Low likelihood of cross-contamination during sampling due to minimal sampling |
Low sample volume, resulting in discrete sample result | Low | |||||||||||
| X | X | X | X | Grab (Solids)
|
Collect sample from top of surface
Remove gross vegetation, if present Transfer to sample |
Stainless steel sampling tool (e.g., shovel, stainless steel spoon), if desired
Sample container |
Easy to collect
Minimal sampling equipment needed |
Limited to top of soil/sediment column
Less discrete sample depth interval Higher |
Low | |||||||||
| X | X | Hand Auger
|
Push auger into soil surface
Remove sample from auger and isolate desired sample Transfer to sample container |
Hand auger
Stainless steel tray Sample container |
Can collect discrete sample intervals at deeper portions of soil column
Can be collected using hand |
Moderately time and labor intensive, depending on field conditions
Requires slightly more specialized May generate excess investigation-derived waste that requires management |
Low to Moderate | |||||||||||
| X | X | X | Direct Push Sampler/Probe
|
Push auger into soil/sediment surface
Remove sample from auger and isolate desired sample Transfer to sample container |
Stainless steel direct push sampler/probe/modified piezometer
Stainless steel tray Sample Waders or boat, depending on location |
Can collect discrete sample intervals at deeper portions of sediment column
Can be collected using |
Moderately time and labor intensive, depending on field conditions
Requires slightly more specialized May generate excess investigation-derived waste that requires management |
Low to Moderate | ||||||||||
| X | X | X | Drill Rig
|
Drill rig pushes split spoon sampler into soil column
Open split spoon sampler Collect sample Transfer to sample container |
Drill rig
Split spoon sampler Stainless steel tray Sample container |
Can collect discrete sample intervals at deeper portions of soil/sediment column
Allows for deeper Minimally time and labor intensive Faster drilling |
Requires specialized sampling equipment
Sample locations may be limited due to drill rig Higher quantity of excess investigation-derived waste that requires management |
High | ||||||||||
| X | X | X | Sediment Grab Sampler Devices
|
Submerge sampler into sediment surface and close sampler bucket
Release sample into pan to Transfer to sample container |
Ponar, Van Veen, Ekman, Smith McIntyre, or Hammon sampler
Stainless steel tray Sample |
Relatively easy to collect
Can collect samples in deeper water columns than standard grab Reduces sediment loss/suspension into water column |
Moderately time and labor intensive, depending on field conditions
Requires slightly more specialized May generate excess investigation-derived waste that requires management |
Low to Moderate | ||||||||||
| X | X | Passive Atmospheric Dust
|
Place aluminum tray/funnel and weather station in desired study area
Allow ambient deposition for Record meteorological data Pour deionized water along aluminum tray/funnel Pour rinsate back into deionized rinse water |
Aluminum tray/funnel
Weather station Deionized rinse water Sample container |
Easy to collect | Assesses deposits only rather than suspended particles
May underestimate low-density microplastic Units are correlated to surface area rather than air volume, resulting in less meaningful data |
Low | |||||||||||
| X | X | Active Pump Sampler
|
Place total suspended particulate sampler in desired study area
Allow sampler to pump air through Record flow rate and duration Using metal forceps, remove filters and immediately |
Total suspended particulate sampler, equipped with glass microfiber filters
Metal tripod, pending Inline flow meters or totalizer Metal forceps Sample container |
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting in a more representative concentration
Provides more |
Requires more specialized sampling equipment
Size range limited by filter size |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Cascade Impactor
|
Place cascade impactor sampler in desired study area
Allow sampler to pump air through cascade Record flow rate and duration Cover sieves with aluminum foil for transport to lab for |
Cascade impactor sampler
Metal tripod, pending sample location Inline flow meters or Aluminum foil |
Allows for simultaneous collection of airborne particles of different size fractions
Provides a Provides more meaningful Can be adapted for stationary or personal air |
Method currently used to sample indoor dust, so may require further development for specific application to MP sampling Requires more specialized sampling equipment Size range limited by sieve size |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Transmission Electron Microscopy Grid
|
Place transmission electron microscopy (TEM) grid sampler in desired study area
Allow sampler to pump Record flow rate and duration Using metal forceps, remove TEM grid and |
TEM grid sampler
Metal tripod, pending sample location Inline flow meters or Metal forceps Sample container |
Provides a larger sample volume, resulting in a more representative concentration
Provides more |
Method currently used to sample indoor dust, so may require further development for specific application to MP sampling Requires more specialized sampling equipment Size range limited by grid size |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Fish (Whole)
|
Capture fish in net, use of electrofishing optional; or direct collection from fish farms or from commercial fish markets Euthanize Remove externally adhered plastics prior to treatment by washing the Wrap in aluminum foil and place on Choice of preservation technique depends on the research question being considered, 4% formaldehyde |
Trammel, seine, or gill net; bottom trawl; or electrofishing gear
Euthanasia solution Aluminum Ice Preservative |
Provides data applicable to determine human health risk from ingestion | Handling stress, physical movement, and the physiological and behavior of the sampled organism may result in the loss of microplastics prior to animal preservation; some animals might egest microplastic debris prior to analysis |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Fish (tissue/parts)
|
Capture fish in net, use of electrofishing optional; or direct collection from fish farms or from commercial fish markets Euthanize Remove externally adhered plastics prior to treatment by washing the Wrap in aluminum foil and place on Choice of preservation technique depends on the research question being considered, 4% formaldehyde Dissect in lab for target tissue/parts |
Trammel, seine, or gill net; bottom trawl; or electrofishing gear
Euthanasia solution Aluminum Ice Preservative |
Provides data useful for toxicity studies and risk assessments | Tissue fixative can affect the structure, microbial surface communities, chemical composition, color, or analytical properties of any microplastics within the sample |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Invertebrates
|
Capture invertebrate; or direct collection from shellfish farms or from commercial markets Euthanize Remove externally adhered plastics prior to treatment by washing the study Where dissection is prohibitive (e.g., mussels) Choice of preservation |
Grabs, traps, and creels; Kick or D-net; Bottom trawl; or Manta or bongo nets (planktonic and nektonic invertebrates) Euthanasia solution Aluminum foil Ice Preservative |
Relatively easy to collect or purchase from biological supply vendors | Handling stress, physical movement, and the physiological and behavior of the sampled organism may result in the loss of microplastics prior to animal preservation; some animals might egest microplastic debris prior to analysis |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Vertebrates
|
Capture vertebrate, or direct collection from commercial markets
Euthanize Remove externally Wrap in aluminum foil and place on ice Choice of preservation technique depends on the Dissect |
Traps
Euthanasia solution Aluminum foil Ice Preservative |
Provides data useful for toxicity studies and risk assessments | Tissue fixative can affect the structure, microbial surface communities, chemical composition, color, or analytical properties of any microplastics within the sample |
High | |||||||||||
| X | X | Plants
|
Purchase vegetables and fruits from local markets or collect from the environment
Wash, peel as Heat to reduce water content Sample aliquots (0.1 g) and Mineralize, digest, and extract |
Blender
Oven Glass tubes Centrifuge |
Easy to collect | Low sensitivity of the method | Moderate | |||||||||||
| X | X | Biofilm
|
Prepare batch reactors in duplicate to continuously stir 100 mL batches
Add polystyrene beads to Sieve into two size classes Incubate composited wastewater influent or freshwater Incubate duplicate reactors for two days Recover beads and rinse Transfer to Extract DNA from the microparticles and concentrated filtrate |
Series of batch reactors
Polystyrene and glass beads Sieves Oven Lysing Commercial DNA extraction kit |
Formation of biofilms on microplastics is widely observed and can significantly alter properties important to environmental and human health Useful for determining fate and effect of microplastics on |
Methods to identify plastics may not be simultaneously compatible with methods used to study biofilms Oxidation and density separation remove biofilm |
Moderate to High | |||||||||||
