We corrected the number density and mass concentration data for 43 surveys of rivers, ports and lakes in Japan and abroad (April 2017 to August 2022). We also updated the formula used to calculate the mass of microplastics thought to be expanded polystyrene in our survey of Japan (April 2019 to March 2020). Results such as the share of products among leaked plastics are not affected. The data on this page has been updated.
Microplastics leakage database
Pirika Association shares the results of its microplastics leakage surveys here.
This project is funded by The Nippon Foundation “Umi-to-Nippon (Sea and Japan) Project”.
Latest results
You can also see reports and results from “View data”.
“Albatross” is the name of the microplastics survey device developed by Pirika, and of the survey service that uses it (now offered as part of Consulting).
Survey locations
Survey method
This project uses Albatross, the microplastics survey device developed by Pirika, Inc.
More information here
Open data
Please use the links below to see the detailed data.
FY2021
MS_image (Microscope images of microplastics)
IR_image (FT-IR spectrum images of microplastics)
IR_csv (FT-IR spectrum data of microplastics)
Report (English, PDF)
2021_Details of survey locations (Google Sheets)
2021_Details of samples (Google Sheets)
Product Datasheet (Data on plastic product litter in the Mekong River basin)
FY2020
MS_image (Microscope images of microplastics)
IR_image (FT-IR spectrum images of microplastics)
IR_csv (FT-IR spectrum data of microplastics)
Report (Japanese, PDF)
2020_Details of survey locations (Google Sheets)
2020_Details of samples (Google Sheets)
FY2019
MS_image (Microscope images of microplastics)
IR_image (FT-IR spectrum images of microplastics)
IR_csv (FT-IR spectrum data of microplastics)
Report (Japanese, PDF)
2019_Details of survey locations (Google Sheets)
2019_Details of samples (Google Sheets)
FY2018
- Report (Japanese, PDF)
- Report: supplementary guide (Japanese, PDF)
- 2018_Details of survey locations (in Japanese)
- 2018_Details of microplastics (in Japanese)
- Report (English, PDF)
- 2018_Details of survey locations
- 2018_Details of samples
- MS (Microscope): images of collected microplastics (png)
- IR (Infrared Spectroscopy)
- FT-IR spectra of collected microplastics (jws)
- FT-IR spectra of collected microplastics (png)
- FT-IR spectra of collected microplastics (csv)
Sharing the results
Pirika Association also works to share survey results and raise awareness, to help solve the problem of litter leaking into nature.
Donation to Pirika
Pirika Association welcomes donations from everyone who supports our work. Your donations help us expand the microplastics leakage database and fund research, surveys and actions to stop litter from leaking into nature. Thank you for your support.
Support
This project is funded by The Nippon Foundation “Umi-to-Nippon (Sea and Japan) Project”.
License
The Pirika Association “Microplastics Leakage Database” is available under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
