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WEBINAR: Microplastics Study Design, Analysis, and Reporting Sponsored by the Ocean Protection Council
Dates
Feb 21 2020 | 10:10am - 12:30pm
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Researchers at the San Francisco Estuary Institute (SFEI), 5Gyres, and University of Toronto recently completed a three-year project to monitor microplastics in the San Francisco Bay and adjacent national marine sanctuaries, as well as the contaminant pathways of wastewater effluent and urban stormwater. In this webinar, researchers will share lessons learned to guide others who are conducting microplastic research.  In particular, we will cover:

  • Factors to consider when designing a study;
  • Brief overview of microplastic sample collection for a range of environmental matrices, including quality assurance/quality control samples;
  • Brief overview of laboratory processing and analysis for the San Francisco Bay study; 
  • Field and laboratory reporting templates;
  • Standardized vocabulary developed for reporting results.

The goal of the webinar is to guide and encourage robust and consistent monitoring of microplastics. This webinar was generously funded by the California Ocean Protection Council.

Agenda

  Topic Time / Presenter
 1.

Introduction and Goals 

  • Share the goals and format of the webinar. 
 10:00 am / Diana Lin
 2.

Study Design to Address Research Objectives

  • We will review research objectives and other factors to consider in study design, using the San Francisco Bay study as an example.
 10:10 am / Liz Miller
 3.

Microplastic Data for Transport Modeling

  • Review of microplastic data used to inform microplastic transport model
 10:30 am / Rusty Holleman
 4.

Field Sampling Methods and Quality Assurance/Quality Control Samples

  • Brief introduction to field sampling methods used for different matrices (surface water, sediment, fish, stormwater, and wastewater).
  • Introduce field sheets with field parameters used for each sampling matrix. 
  • Discuss collection of QA/QC samples including field blanks, field duplicates, and laboratory blanks.
 10:40 am / Diana Lin
 5. Short Break 11:05
 6.

Processing and Analysis of Samples in the Laboratory

  • Outline laboratory analysis for different matrices, including extraction, counting, polymer characterization using Raman/FTIR analysis, and new tools being developed. 
  • Review microplastic characteristics measured and recorded through laboratory analysis.
  • Introduce laboratory reporting worksheets.
 11:10 am / Chelsea Rochman
 7.

Reporting Vocabulary

  • Importance of standardized vocabulary 
  • Review the vocabulary and method for summarizing results developed for CEDEN, the California Environmental Data Exchange Network. Example of challenges in datasets and methods to address this.
 11:30 am / Adam Wong
 8. Additional Time for Questions 12:00 pm

Downloads

Attachment Size
Field and Laboratory Sampling Templates 254.85 KB