Extraction, Enumeration, and Identification Methods for Monitoring Microplastics in the Aquatic Environment

AbstractPlastic products in different sizes and with different features are in widespread use to make day-to-day life easier. Until now, these materials have not been considered as a threat to terrestrial and aquatic environments; however, the accumulation of these products in these environments is now considered to cause plastic pollution. Consequently, plastic wastes and their degradation byproducts have become a more serious problem to overcome. The level of anthropogenic pollution defines as the level of plastic pollution. Efforts encompassing all known methods for plastic pollution mitigation have been attempted, but as yet, an effective solution has not been found. In the last 40 years, MPs have gained a significant attention as one of the emerging pollutants in the aquatic environment. The expansion of the occurrence of MPs in fresh water and seawater globally results in having a great deal of attention by scientists, policymakers, and the public. The determination and comparison of MPs abundance and characteristics are still not understood well as MPs study is in its early years. The studies on MPs’ spatial and temporal variations in aquatic systems should be increased worldwide. In this chapter of the book, principal methods in microplastic isolation such as sampling, separation, and identification have been attempted to comply with microplastic research to be performed in various matrices of freshwater and marine ecosystems. Also, new techniques and methodologies that are preferred for use in microplastic studies will be explained.KeywordsExtractionEnumerationIdentificationMonitoringMicroplasitcPollutionAquatic environment