ISO 5667-27:2025 PDF

Water quality — Sampling — Part 27: Guidance on sampling for microplastics in water

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Title (English):

ISO 5667-27:2025

Water quality — Sampling — Part 27: Guidance on sampling for microplastics in water

Document status:: Active
Format:: Electronic (PDF)
Number of pages:: 28
Publication date:: March 3, 2025
Edition:: ISO IS 5667 edition 1 version 1
ICS:: 13.060.45

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Description (English):

This document specifies the basic methods for sampling suspended microplastics in water (domestic water, freshwater, seawater, treated wastewater and untreated wastewater), for their subsequent characterization. Suspended particles can also include synthetic or semi-synthetic polymeric materials (such as rubber). This document does not cover chemical analysis, biological (ecotoxicological) methods or physical methods, nor the pre-treatment or digestion methods intrinsic to such analyses. This document covers general methodologies: — for grab sampling, sampling using a set of successive filters of different pore sizes (cascade filtration), for water samples with low, medium and high content of suspended solids, and — for net sampling using, for example, manta, plankton or neuston nets.

Technical details

Technical committee: ISO/TC 147/SC 6 - Sampling (general methods)
SKU: ISO 5667-27:2025

Abstract

Overview

ISO 5667-27:2025 - "Water quality - Sampling - Part 27: Guidance on sampling for microplastics in water" provides standardized guidance for collecting suspended microplastics from a range of water matrices (domestic water, freshwater, seawater, treated and untreated wastewater). It defines microplastics (particles 1 µm to 5 mm) and gives practical procedures for grab sampling, volume‑reduced sampling (cascade filtration) and net sampling (for example, manta, plankton or neuston nets). The document focuses on sampling methodology, sample handling and quality control; it does not cover chemical, biological/ecotoxicological or physical analysis methods nor pre‑treatment/digestion protocols.

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

Sampling methods
- Grab sampling (spot samples) - collect discrete volumes for laboratory separation.
- Cascade filtration (volume‑reduced sampling) - successive filters of different pore sizes to capture particle size fractions; methods adapted for low, medium and high suspended solid content.
- Net sampling - surface or near‑surface collection using nets such as manta, plankton or neuston nets.
Suspended solids categories (for method selection)
- Low: 1–100 mg/L
- Medium: 100–500 mg/L
- High: >500 mg/L
Quality control
- Use of field blanks and other blanks to detect contamination during sampling.
- Recommendations on materials and handling to minimize plastic contamination (e.g., inert filters for blanks).
- Guidance on sampling volume, frequency, timing and sampling points to reduce variability.
Apparatus and sample handling
- Lists of suitable equipment for grab sampling, cascade filtration and net sampling, and instructions for transport and storage to preserve sample integrity.
Reporting
- Required sampling report elements to ensure data traceability and comparability.

Practical Applications and Users

ISO 5667-27 is intended for:

Environmental laboratories and analytical teams setting up microplastics sampling programs
Water utilities and wastewater operators monitoring plastic contamination
Governmental and regulatory bodies establishing surveillance or compliance sampling
Researchers conducting field studies on microplastics distribution in rivers, coastal waters and drinking water supplies
NGOs and consultants performing baseline surveys and impact assessments

Benefits include improved comparability of datasets, reduced sampling bias, and clearer documentation for monitoring programs.

Related Standards (if applicable)

ISO 5667 series (general water sampling standards)
ISO 5667-3 (Preservation and handling of water samples)
ISO 5667-17 (related sampling guidance)
ISO/TR 21960 and ISO/TR 22930-1 (terminology and detection/limit definitions referenced)

Keywords: ISO 5667-27, microplastics sampling, water quality, cascade filtration, grab sampling, manta net, field blanks, suspended microplastics, sampling protocol.

Related standards

Standards mentioned in the description

Abstract

Overview

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

Sampling methods
- Grab sampling (spot samples) - collect discrete volumes for laboratory separation.
- Cascade filtration (volume‑reduced sampling) - successive filters of different pore sizes to capture particle size fractions; methods adapted for low, medium and high suspended solid content.
- Net sampling - surface or near‑surface collection using nets such as manta, plankton or neuston nets.
Suspended solids categories (for method selection)
- Low: 1–100 mg/L
- Medium: 100–500 mg/L
- High: >500 mg/L
Quality control
- Use of field blanks and other blanks to detect contamination during sampling.
- Recommendations on materials and handling to minimize plastic contamination (e.g., inert filters for blanks).
- Guidance on sampling volume, frequency, timing and sampling points to reduce variability.
Apparatus and sample handling
- Lists of suitable equipment for grab sampling, cascade filtration and net sampling, and instructions for transport and storage to preserve sample integrity.
Reporting
- Required sampling report elements to ensure data traceability and comparability.

Practical Applications and Users

ISO 5667-27 is intended for:

Environmental laboratories and analytical teams setting up microplastics sampling programs
Water utilities and wastewater operators monitoring plastic contamination
Governmental and regulatory bodies establishing surveillance or compliance sampling
Researchers conducting field studies on microplastics distribution in rivers, coastal waters and drinking water supplies
NGOs and consultants performing baseline surveys and impact assessments

Benefits include improved comparability of datasets, reduced sampling bias, and clearer documentation for monitoring programs.

Related Standards (if applicable)

ISO 5667 series (general water sampling standards)
ISO 5667-3 (Preservation and handling of water samples)
ISO 5667-17 (related sampling guidance)
ISO/TR 21960 and ISO/TR 22930-1 (terminology and detection/limit definitions referenced)

Keywords: ISO 5667-27, microplastics sampling, water quality, cascade filtration, grab sampling, manta net, field blanks, suspended microplastics, sampling protocol.

ISO 5667-27:2025 PDF

Technical details

Abstract

Overview

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

Practical Applications and Users

Related Standards (if applicable)

Related standards

Abstract

Overview

Key Topics and Technical Requirements

Practical Applications and Users

Related Standards (if applicable)

Related standards

Water quality - Sampling - Part 3: Preservation and handling of water samples (ISO 5667-3:2024)

Water quality - Sampling - Part 17: Guidance on sampling of bulk suspended solids

Plastics - Environmental aspects - State of knowledge and methodologies (ISO/TR 21960:2020)

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