https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2019.1943
An affordable methodology for quantifying waterborne microplastics - an emerging contaminant in inland-waters
Methodology for quantifying microplastics
Submitted: 12 September 2019
Accepted: 7 November 2019
Published: 13 November 2019
Accepted: 7 November 2019
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All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.
Authors
The occurrence of microplastics in marine habitats is well documented and of growing concern. The presence of these small (<5 mm) pieces of plastic is less well recorded in inland water systems. In this paper, we determine a cost-efficient and straightforward method for the collection and identification of microplastics in UK inland waters. We found pieces of microplastic from all sample sites ranging from over 1000 L-1 in the River Tame, to 2.4 L-1 in Loch Lomond. The presence of microplastics in all waters tested suggest it should now be classed as an emergent contaminant, with routine monitoring required.
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Edited by
Gianluca Corno, CNR-IRSA Verbania, ItalyHow to Cite
Dunn, Christian, Jedd Owens, Luke Fears, Laura Nunnerley, Julian Kirby, Oliver L. Armstrong, P. John Thomas, Dan Aberg, William Gilder, Dannielle Green, Rachael Antwis, and Chris Freeman. 2019. “An Affordable Methodology for Quantifying Waterborne Microplastics - an Emerging Contaminant in Inland-Waters: Methodology for Quantifying Microplastics”. Journal of Limnology 79 (1). https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2019.1943.
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