Fact sheet 10.3: Sampling of microplastics in water bodies

Representative sampling is crucial to obtain scientifically usable data on microplastic levels in the environment. This requires an approximate idea of the microplastic occurrence in the medium under investigation. For water bodies, this can be done, for example, by individual sampling using a flow-through centrifuge. An integrated sampling over a longer period of time with a sedimentation box can take into account temporal fluctuations.

The joint project RUSEKU has developed representative investigation methods that can measure microplastic content more accurately and more quickly over the different areas of the water cycle. The focus was on sampling methods in the urban wastewater system and in flowing waters.

The factsheet is available for download here.