Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics
Abstract Since 2015, the determination of microplastics (MPs; < 5 mm) in soil has gained increasing attention. However, usual analytical protocols still render a comparison of results challenging. This structured review integrates an in-depth screening of scientific articles (n = 106; from 1980 t...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
SpringerOpen
2023-07-01
|
| Series: | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00063-5 |
| _version_ | 1797779074371813376 |
|---|---|
| author | Kristof Dorau Martin Hoppe Daniel Rückamp Jan Köser Georg Scheeder Katrin Scholz Elke Fries |
| author_facet | Kristof Dorau Martin Hoppe Daniel Rückamp Jan Köser Georg Scheeder Katrin Scholz Elke Fries |
| author_sort | Kristof Dorau |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Since 2015, the determination of microplastics (MPs; < 5 mm) in soil has gained increasing attention. However, usual analytical protocols still render a comparison of results challenging. This structured review integrates an in-depth screening of scientific articles (n = 106; from 1980 to 2022) that focused on determining MPs in soils. The different studies were divided into groups regarding (i) MPs input pathways, (ii) study site information, (iii) sampling design, (iv) sample preparation, and (v) analytical methods for MPs detection. Most of the studies (63%) focused on a defined study site influenced by a known point source, whereas 37% measured MPs background contents related to delocalized MPs emission sources. Even though soil was the target compartment, only 26% classified the soil type, mostly using the World Reference Base (WRB) as a classification system. Additional information on soil properties was supplied within only 20% of the studies. However, this information is mandatory for evaluation of MPs recovery tests and analytical results. In nearly all studies, the mass of the single samples equaled the final mass of the composite sample, with a mean of 1.32 kg ± 1.07 kg. However, other procedures that involve a larger sample mass seem promising but are still seldom applied. Our structured review revealed that a standard operation procedure with harmonized methods is urgently needed with a coherent and comprehensive workflow, including field sampling and sample preparation. Such a procedure would ensure the reproducibility and representativeness of analytical results, which are mandatory for evaluating and restricting MPs pollution in soils in the future. Graphical Abstract |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:26:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-b9c874d9850345119d4f68dd6d7871f0 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2662-4966 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T23:26:29Z |
| publishDate | 2023-07-01 |
| publisher | SpringerOpen |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Microplastics and Nanoplastics |
| spelling | doaj.art-b9c874d9850345119d4f68dd6d7871f02023-07-16T11:08:42ZengSpringerOpenMicroplastics and Nanoplastics2662-49662023-07-013111410.1186/s43591-023-00063-5Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplasticsKristof Dorau0Martin Hoppe1Daniel Rückamp2Jan Köser3Georg Scheeder4Katrin Scholz5Elke Fries6Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)German Environment Agency (UBA)Federal Institute for Geosciences and Natural Resources (BGR)Abstract Since 2015, the determination of microplastics (MPs; < 5 mm) in soil has gained increasing attention. However, usual analytical protocols still render a comparison of results challenging. This structured review integrates an in-depth screening of scientific articles (n = 106; from 1980 to 2022) that focused on determining MPs in soils. The different studies were divided into groups regarding (i) MPs input pathways, (ii) study site information, (iii) sampling design, (iv) sample preparation, and (v) analytical methods for MPs detection. Most of the studies (63%) focused on a defined study site influenced by a known point source, whereas 37% measured MPs background contents related to delocalized MPs emission sources. Even though soil was the target compartment, only 26% classified the soil type, mostly using the World Reference Base (WRB) as a classification system. Additional information on soil properties was supplied within only 20% of the studies. However, this information is mandatory for evaluation of MPs recovery tests and analytical results. In nearly all studies, the mass of the single samples equaled the final mass of the composite sample, with a mean of 1.32 kg ± 1.07 kg. However, other procedures that involve a larger sample mass seem promising but are still seldom applied. Our structured review revealed that a standard operation procedure with harmonized methods is urgently needed with a coherent and comprehensive workflow, including field sampling and sample preparation. Such a procedure would ensure the reproducibility and representativeness of analytical results, which are mandatory for evaluating and restricting MPs pollution in soils in the future. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00063-5MicroplasticsSynthetic polymersSoil sampling protocolsAnalytical methodsSoil pollutionMethod harmonization |
| spellingShingle | Kristof Dorau Martin Hoppe Daniel Rückamp Jan Köser Georg Scheeder Katrin Scholz Elke Fries Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics Microplastics and Nanoplastics Microplastics Synthetic polymers Soil sampling protocols Analytical methods Soil pollution Method harmonization |
| title | Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics |
| title_full | Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics |
| title_fullStr | Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics |
| title_full_unstemmed | Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics |
| title_short | Status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics |
| title_sort | status quo of operation procedures for soil sampling to analyze microplastics |
| topic | Microplastics Synthetic polymers Soil sampling protocols Analytical methods Soil pollution Method harmonization |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s43591-023-00063-5 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT kristofdorau statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics AT martinhoppe statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics AT danielruckamp statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics AT jankoser statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics AT georgscheeder statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics AT katrinscholz statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics AT elkefries statusquoofoperationproceduresforsoilsamplingtoanalyzemicroplastics |