Methods of soil sampling for microplastic analysis: a review
DATE:
2024-02
UNIVERSAL IDENTIFIER: http://hdl.handle.net/11093/6827
EDITED VERSION: https://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10311-023-01652-9
DOCUMENT TYPE: article
ABSTRACT
Over the past few decades, microplastic pollution in marine environments has been studied using 17 standard methods. However, within a decade, researchers have become interested in (micro)plastic 18 pollution in terrestrial environments due to the ubiquity and harmful effects of microplastics in soil. 19 Due to the tiny nature of microplastics, identifying them in soil is very challenging and requires great 20 care to identify them in the environment. To the best of our knowledge, no internationally recognized 21 technique has been established to standardize soil sampling before they are analyzed for microplastics 22 in the laboratory. Here, we reviewed studies on soil microplastics from 2017 to 2023 chosen and 23 catalogued from seven database categories of PubMed, Google Scholar, and Web of Science. We 24 identified and discussed common techniques for collecting soil samples prior to microplastic analysis. 25 We found that before collecting soil samples in the field, a simple and economical soil sampling design, 26 such as a random sampling design, can be used to collect a representative sample. Also, we perceived 27 that stainless steel shovels or soil augers are the most common tools for collecting topsoil (0–30 cm). 28 However, deep soil samples (> 100 cm) could only be obtained using a core drill. The number of soil 29 samples collected in the field depends on the available budget and instruments for microplastic analysis. 30 For example, if a micro-Fourier transform infrared microscope is used for analysis, soil samples as 31 small as 15.0 g per point can be collected per point. Once the soils are collected, they can be stored in 32 non-plastic containers (e.g., aluminium bags) to reduce contamination. Further studies are required to 33 establish a cost- and time-effective, accurate, transportation-friendly, and robust soil sampling method 34 for studying microplastics in situ in the field
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