Are we speaking the same language? Recommendations for a definition and categorization framework for plastic debris
Hartmann NB, Hüffer T, Thompson RC, Hassellöv M, Verschoor A, Daugaard AE, Rist S, Karlsson T, Brennholt N, Cole M, Herrling MP, Hess MC, Ivleva NP, Lusher AL, Wagner M (2019). Environmental Science & Technology.
What they found
Researchers used inconsistent size classes and definitions for microplastics. This paper proposes a common framework: plastic debris is defined by polymer composition, solid state and insolubility, then categorised by size, shape, colour and origin, to make studies comparable.
- What it can't tell you
- A consensus proposal, not data. Its size classes are recommendations; regulators (for example the EU and California) use their own definitions, so counts across studies still may not be comparable.
- Funding
- Not checked (full text inaccessible). Europe PMC lists the European Commission and Germany's BMBF.
- Topics
- Methods
- Checked against
- Abstract (Europe PMC, PMID 30608663)