Methods of sampling and sample preparation for detection of microplastics and nanoplastics in the environment

Microplastics and nanoplastics are a new type of emerging pollutant that appears in the environment. The difference between those two is based on the particle size. The studies about microplastics and nanoplastics have recently increased because of the growing social awareness and because of the biological effects they provoke. To clarify these effects, proper sampling and identification methods are required. The lack of standard methods up to now makes the studies and the comparisons hard. This chapter provides an overview of the main existing methods of sampling, sample preparation, and the identification of debris comprising of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) in nature. In conclusion, the methods used for these purposes depend on the type of material, the size, and the matrix in which the polymer is involved.