Collection Protocol
Sample should be collected from natural source in the watershed. (Stream, creek, lake, Sound, Yes; Garden hose, drinking fountain, swimming pool, No.) Preferred collection containers are aluminum, stainless steel, or glass bottles, with secure screw-on lid.
- Rinse clean bottle with surface water 3 times: submerge, fill, dump, repeat.
- Collect 1 liter of surface water away from where previous water was dumped out (avoid floating organic matter), and tightly cap bottle(s).
- Record GPS information and fill out data sheet with other water quality parameters (temperature, wind, tide) and label bottle and sheet with a sample number (naming convention = MICRO(WWwhole water)mm/dd/yearsequential numberproject name/abbreviation) e.g. MICROWW050920131IP
- Store samples out of direct sunlight, preferably in a cool area.
Analysis Protocol
- Transfer sample material from the collection bottle into a 200ml beaker.
- Add 15g of salt and place the beaker on a hotplate at low temperature with a stir bar and allow to dissolve fully.
- Allow the solution to sit for at least 24 hours, giving salinity-based density separation time to settle.
- After a minimum 24 hours, slowly and carefully pour the solution through a 125μm sieve until the salt that has collected at the bottom of the beaker begins to reach the edge of the beaker. Stop pouring before salt particles can begin to collect in the sieve.
- Place the sieve on a petri dish with a pre-marked grid and examine under a digital microscope using both transmitted and UV light.
- Record the total number of plastic filaments and/or fragments found.
- Store samples out of direct sunlight, preferably in a cool area.
Untested samples should be retained for one year from collection date, to allow for further review and analysis, as needed.
