A simple overflow density separation method that recovers >95% of dense microplastics from sediment.

Density separation can isolate microplastics from environmental samples containing sediment. Typically, a solution added to sediment causes microplastics with lower densities to float. The solution of choice can influence the recovery of different particles since denser solutions can separate a greater range of microplastics.

Battling the known unknowns: a synoptic review of aquatic plastics research from Australia, the United Kingdom and China.

Plastic pollution is a global environmental and human health issue, with plastics now ubiquitous in the environment and biota. Despite extensive international research, key knowledge gaps ("known unknowns") remain around ecosystem-scale and human health impacts of plastics in the environment, particularly in limnetic, coastal and marine systems. Here we review aquatic plastics research in three contrasting geographic and cultural settings, selected to present a gradient of heavily urbanised (and high population density) to less urbanised (and low population density) areas: China, the United Kingdom (UK), and Australia.