MOEJ Community Practices
https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/982
2024-03-28T09:36:52ZGuidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods. Version 1.2.
https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/1361.2
Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods. Version 1.2.
Michida, Yutaka; Chavanich, Suchana; Chiba, Sanae; Cordova, Muhammad Reza; Cozsar Cabanas, Andrés; Galgani, Francois; Hagmann, Pascal; Hinata, Hirofumi; Isobe, Atsuhiko; Kershaw, Peter; Kozlovskii, Nikolai; Li, Daoji; Lusher, Amy L.; Marti, Elisa; Mason, Sherri A.; Mu, Jingli; Saito, Hiroaki; Shim, Won Joon; Syakti, Agung Dhamar; Takada, Hideshige; Thompson, Richard; Tokai, Tadashi; Uchida, Keiichi; Vasilenko, Katerina; Wang, Juying
This document presents the version (1.2) of “Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic
Monitoring Methods” (herein after referred to as the Guidelines). Its primary goal is to propose ways
of harmonizing methodologies for monitoring microplastic densities at the ocean surface to deliver
comparable results. Specifically, the Guidelines indicate the rationale for various sample collection
methods, sample handling and processing, analytical procedures, reporting requirements, and other
matters necessary or desirable for harmonization.
Preparation of the Guidelines was based on the output of the international workshop held in 2015 as
a follow-up to the “G7 Action Plan to Combat Marine Litter” agreed on in the G7 Elmau Summit 2015,
and a follow-up meeting held in 2019 based on “G20 Implementation Framework for Actions on
marine plastic litter” endorsed in the G20 Osaka Summit 2019. It was indicated that Japan would
lead the harmonization efforts for microplastic monitoring methods in the workshop and the followup
meeting held in 2019.
The Guidelines were developed on the basis of opinions and recommendations compiled at
international meetings of microplastic monitoring experts and the results of dedicated in situ and
laboratory experiments newly conducted toward harmonization, as well as existing findings collected
and summarized from published microplastic monitoring survey reports, guidelines, and manuals.
Estimating the abundance and/or distribution of microplastics in water bodies has become
internationally important. At present, several sets of guidelines and other documents are being
developed by some international organizations including GESAMP. The Guidelines presented here
were designed to supplement and complement such documents, and to propose detailed methodologies
focusing on net sampling and analysis. The outcomes of which are to contribute validated and
comparable data which can be used to produce horizontal distribution maps (two dimensional maps;
2-D maps) of microplastics at the global ocean surface.
Many studies are expected to be carried out to monitor microplastics at the ocean surface. The
application of the harmonized methods proposed in the Guidelines will support these efforts to
generate comparable results. Thus, enabling researchers to analyze, consolidate and integrate the
results on a wider scale. Through such an application, we strongly believe that our understanding of
the abundance of microplastics in the ocean will improve. Shared and integrated monitoring results
will promote higher level analysis of microplastic issues and application to policy development.
These outcome and progress will be share at various international meetings including G20.
The first revision of the Guidelines was made one year after their first publication and this second
revision was made two years after the first revision. The Guidelines will be updated and improved as
necessary.
2023-01-01T00:00:00ZGuidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods. Version 1.0. {SUPERSEDED by http://dx.doi.org/10.25607/OBP-867]
https://repository.oceanbestpractices.org/handle/11329/983
Guidelines for Harmonizing Ocean Surface Microplastic Monitoring Methods. Version 1.0. {SUPERSEDED by http://dx.doi.org/10.25607/OBP-867]
Michida, Yutaka; Chavanich, Suchana; Cózar Cabañas, Andrés; Hagmann, Pascal; Hinata, Hirofumi; Isobe, Atsuhiko; Kershaw, Peter; Kozlovskii, Nikolai; Li, Daoji; Lusher, Amy L.; Martí, Elisa; Mason, Sherri A.; Mu, Jingli; Saito, Hiroaki; Shim, Won Joon; Syakti, Agung Dhamar; Takada, Hideshige; Thompson, Richard; Tokai, Tadashi; Uchida, Keiichi; Vasilenko, Katerina; Wang, Juying
Marine litter, including microplastics, is a current global challenge. Determining the existing distributions and quantities of microplastics in the ocean is an urgent task.
Comparison of reported microplastic abundances, however, is difficult at present due to diverse monitoring methods. Hence, harmonization of monitoring methods for marine litter, including microplastics, is recognized as an important task/activity.
To remedy the situation, the Ministry of the Environment, Japan (below, MOEJ) has been promoting efforts to ascertain the actual state of marine pollution by encouraging horizontal distribution mapping of microplastic densities at the ocean surface worldwide. The MOEJ has developed Guidelines to harmonize ocean surface layer microplastic sampling and analytical methods, based on the results of two projects implemented by scientists. The first of these, for examining analytical methods, was an inter-laboratory comparison conducted by 12 institutes in 10 countries in 2017 to cross-check results of their own analytical methods using a pair of standard samples, each containing a predetermined quantity of plastic particles and a predetermined amount of non-plastic material. The second, for evaluating variances due to differences in field sampling methods, was a comparison of results obtained using various methods in FY2018, in Tokyo Bay. Based on analyses of the results obtained in these projects, recommendations for harmonization and points to be noted when examining monitoring results were summarized in the MOEJ’s Guidelines.
These Guidelines were prepared to enable anyone implementing ocean surface-layer microplastics-monitoring to design their monitoring protocols, compare their results with other monitoring results and interpret them based on such comparisons.
2019-01-01T00:00:00Z