A new study reveals citizen science holds untapped potential in measuring microplastic pollution - but chaotic research methods may be clouding the global picture
A new study from the University of Portsmouth has highlighted the growing role of citizen science in tackling one of the planet’s most pervasive pollution problems: microplastics and mesoplastics. While researchers often warn that a lack of standardised protocols risks muddying the waters, this research shows that public involvement could be key to plugging the data gaps and that comparability rather than conformity is key.
The study compared three leading sampling protocols across coastal sites in southern England. These methods included two citizen science sampling protocols, the Big Microplastic Survey (BMS), and the Australian Microplastic Assessment Project (AUSMAP), and the scientific recommendations of the European Union Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). Using volunteer researchers, the team tested how each method performed in terms of data quality, ease of use, and adaptability to real-world conditions.
The researchers found that there was no one-size-fits-all approach and the sheer variety of methods now in use is hampering efforts to form a coherent global picture of coastal plastic pollution.
“We found that the BMS method often detected more plastics than the other two, especially in uncoordinated surveys,” said co-author Dr Michelle Hale, Head of the School of the Environment and Life Sciences at the University of Portsmouth. “But each method has its strengths. AUSMAP, for instance, was the fastest and most accessible in the field. MSFD, though slower and more technical, brings scientific rigour, if you’ve got access to a laboratory.”
Posted On: 23/06/2025
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