IMIS

The availability of many microplastic analysis methods is challenging for researchers and policy makers when tasked with choosing an optimal method for their research question and a given budget. To help tackle this problem, we created predictive tools that allow to identify the most cost-effective methods for specific microplastic analysis scenarios involving seawater samples. Moreover, the tools allow to calculate the total analysis cost of each method. The tools were created by performing a cost-effectiveness analysis of microplastic analytics using survey data acquired from experts in the field. To do so, first, six analysis method categories were created based on the obtained data. Next, total analysis cost for each of the six method categories was simulated, taking into account all labour and equipment costs. Three different tools were created based on the gross national income per capita (GNI p.c.) of the countries of employment of the respondents.