Aquatic microplastics research in the ASEAN region: Analysis of challenges and priorities

Nakano H 1 , Alfonso MB 2 , Phinchan N 3 , Jandang S 2 , Manap MRA 4 , Chavanich S 5 Show all authors , Viyakarn V 5 , Müller M 6 , Wong C 6 , Bacosa HP 7 , Celik M 8 , Cordova MR 9 , Isobe A 2

Affiliations 

  • 1 Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Kasuga, Japan; Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Kyushu University, CU Research Building, Bangkok, Thailand. Electronic address: [email protected]
  • 2 Research Institute for Applied Mechanics, Kyushu University, Kasuga, Japan; Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Kyushu University, CU Research Building, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 3 Center for Ocean Plastic Studies, Kyushu University, CU Research Building, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 4 Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Malaysia
  • 5 Department of Marine Science, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand; Aquatic Resources Research Institute, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand
  • 6 Faculty of Engineering, Computing and Science, Swinburne University of Technology Sarawak Campus, Jalan Simpang Tiga, 93350 Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 7 Department of Environmental Science, School of Interdisciplinary Studies, Mindanao State University-Iligan Institute of Technology, Iligan, Philippines
  • 8 Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, Tokyo, Japan
  • 9 Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, Indonesia; Centre for Collaborative Research on Aquatic Ecosystem in Eastern Indonesia (Pusat Kolaboratif Riset Ekosistem Perairan Indonesia Timur), the Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, Ambon, Indonesia
Mar Pollut Bull, 2024 Nov 28;210:117342.
PMID: 39613519 DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.117342

Abstract

Research on microplastics must be harmonized. Therefore, we thoroughly evaluated in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) region, addressing challenges and priorities in protocol harmonization and microplastics research promotion. Of the 615 papers searched by the Web of Science, 164 were used for this systematic review. The number of ASEAN research articles has increased over time. Examination of research protocols in various sampling environments revealed several challenges: 1) Disparities in access to sampling locations affect the research extent; 2) Outdated protocols and limited access to technologies such as FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared) spectroscopy result in less harmonized and potentially lower-quality data; and 3) Insufficiently detailed methods and QA/QC information hampers comparability. We offer procedure updates to overcome these limitations and cover environmental microplastic study gaps. Other countries in the Global South may encounter similar challenges, making this review a valuable contribution to advancing global microplastics research and fostering international collaboration.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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