Comprehensive review on sampling, characterization and distribution of microplastics in beach sand and sediments

Microplastics (MP) have become the major (or most important contributor) to the pollution of the environment in the recent decades. Millions of tonnes of plastic litter are transported into the marine environment annually, and these quantities are expected to increase continuously in the coming years. Monitoring of MPs in beach sand and sediment provides the information on extent of MPs pollution in the ocean, and also indicates consumption pattern of plastic at local, regional and global scale. This comprehensive review focuses on beach sand and sediment sampling, along with processes and methods for identification and quantification of MPs in these environmental media. Major analytical techniques for characterisation of MPs such as Fluorescence Microscopy, Fourier Transform IR spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), Chromatographic techniques (GC-MS/ HPLC), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) have been discussed in depth with respect to the analysis of beach sand and sediment samples. This review also provides a snapshot of environmental distribution of MPs in beach sand and sediments with respect to recent studies across the globe since 2017 and the challenges and future directives in the research area of MPs.