A field and laboratory manual for sampling, processing and reporting microplastics in coastal and marine environments

Nina Wootton^1*Patrick Reis-Santos¹Rachel Przeslawski²Tanveer M Adyel³Michelle Blewitt⁴Bradley Clarke⁵Thomas Crutchett⁶Anirban Ghose⁷Sara Hajbane⁶Mark Hamann⁸Britta Denise Hardesty⁹RUMANA HOSSAIN⁷Jennifer L Lavers¹⁰Sophie C Leterme¹¹Frederic D L Leusch¹²Samantha K Lynch¹³Melanie Macgregor¹⁴Cherie Ann Motti¹⁵Warwick Noble¹⁶Allyson O'Brien¹⁷Thava Palanisami¹⁸Elvis Dartey Okoffo¹⁹Kushani Perera²⁰Peter S Puskic²¹Joseph Razzell Hollis²²Lauren Roman^23,9Veena Sahajwalla⁷Marina F. M. Santana¹⁵Anastasiia Snigirova¹⁴Elise M Tuuri¹⁴Scott P Wilson^24,4Shima Ziajahromi¹²Bronwyn M. Gillanders²⁵

• ¹School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, Australia
• ²Southern Cross University - Coffs Harbour Campus, Coffs Harbour, Australia
• ³Centre for Nature Positive Solutions, School of Science, RMIT University, Melbourne, Australia
• ⁴AUSMAP, Total Environment Centre, Surry Hills, Australia
• ⁵Australian Laboratory for Emerging Contaminants, The University of Melbourne School of Chemistry, Parkville, Australia
• ⁶Oceans Institute, The University of Western Australia School of Biological Sciences, Perth, Australia
• ⁷University of New South Wales Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology, Sydney, Australia
• ⁸James Cook University College of Science and Engineering, Townsville City, Australia
• ⁹CSIRO Environment, Hobart, Australia
• ¹⁰Charles Sturt University, Albury, Australia
• ¹¹ARC Training Centre for Biofilm Research and Innovation, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
• ¹²Australian Rivers Institute, Griffith University School of Environment and Science, Nathan, Australia
• ¹³NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Lidcombe, Australia
• ¹⁴Flinders University College of Science and Engineering, Adelaide, Australia
• ¹⁵Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville City, Australia
• ¹⁶Aquatic Assessments, Adelaide, Australia
• ¹⁷The University of Melbourne School of BioSciences, Parkville, Australia
• ¹⁸The University of Newcastle College of Engineering Science and Environment, Callaghan, Australia
• ¹⁹The University of Queensland Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences, Woolloongabba, Australia
• ²⁰Griffith University Australian Rivers Institute, Nathan, Australia
• ²¹Centre for Marine Socioecology, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
• ²²Natural History Museum, London, United Kingdom
• ²³University of Tasmania Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, Hobart, Australia
• ²⁴School of Natural Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, Australia
• ²⁵The University of Adelaide School of Biological Sciences, Adelaide, Australia

Global interest in microplastics is increasing, with numerous organisations collecting data on microplastics in the environment. However, disparate sampling, analysis, and reporting methods limit our ability to integrate data, hindering a global understanding of microplastic occurrence, effects and dynamics. Drawing on international directives and collaborations, we present a comprehensive guideline of harmonised and standardised field and laboratory approaches for microplastics in marine and coastal environments. We aim to ensure data consistency and comparability, incorporating the latest methodological developments for investigating and monitoring microplastics in four environmental matrices: sediment, water, biota, and air. A participatory approach brought together 40 researchers with diverse experience, reflecting a broad range of regional and international research. Further, we provide best practice recommendations for sample processing to isolate, quantify and characterise microplastics, along with effective quality assurance and quality control measures. We also include reporting and data release recommendations, to ensure consistency and comparability across datasets. This guideline is endorsed by Ocean Best Practices System. By following these guidelines, and incorporating workflows supporting Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, and Reusable (FAIR) data, diverse stakeholders and practitioners can generate harmonised data essential for decision-making, facilitating a collective ability to synthesise global datasets and support action on microplastics.