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Caspian microplastic evidence dataset
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Scientists gathered and organized findings from 10+ studies on microplastic pollution in the Caspian Sea, tracking tiny plastic particles found in water, sand, riverbanks, fish, and even seals. This isn't new research on health effects—it's a big-picture collection of existing data that helps identify where more testing is needed, especially since fish from this region are eaten by people and plastic contamination could travel up the food chain. The takeaway: we still don't have complete evidence on how much plastic pollution is in this important sea, which matters for both the ecosystem and the food it produces for humans.
This dataset compiles quantitative and methodological evidence on microplastic occurrence in the Caspian Sea Basin. It includes structured data extracted from ten peer-reviewed studies published between 2020 and 2026 and one visual-microscopic pilot dataset from Azerbaijan. The records cover coastal and offshore waters, beach and bottom sediments, river estuaries, wetlands, fish and Caspian seals. The dataset contains information on study location, environmental matrix, sample size, reported abundance, measurement unit, particle morphology, colour, size, dominant polymers and analytical confirmation methods. Original measurement units are retained because sediment, water and biota data are not directly comparable. The Azerbaijan pilot observations are identified as microplastic-like anthropogenic particles because FTIR or Raman confirmation was not conducted. The dataset is intended to support systematic review, secondary-data analysis, identification of geographical and methodological research gaps, and sustainable coastal management research in the Caspian Sea Basin.
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Caspian microplastic evidence dataset
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Scientists gathered together everything we currently know about tiny plastic particles (microplastics) found in the Caspian Sea—in its water, sand, mud, fish, and even seals—by combining data from ten research studies. This isn't new research showing plastic harms health directly, but rather an organized collection of existing evidence that helps identify where more testing is needed, including in fish that people may eventually eat. It matters because understanding how much plastic pollution surrounds us in our food and water sources is the first step toward figuring out any risks to human health.
Harmonized analytical dataset and visual outputs on microplastic pollution and coastal anthropogenic pressure in the Caspian Sea Basin
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Researchers pulled together existing data on tiny plastic particles (microplastics) found in the water, sediment, and wildlife of the Caspian Sea, along with information on nearby pollution sources like shipping traffic, tourism, and waste—creating a organized resource for scientists to study the problem more closely. This matters because the Caspian Sea supplies food and drinking water to millions of people across five countries, and understanding where microplastic pollution comes from is a first step toward figuring out how it might affect the fish we eat and the water we drink. Notably, some of the particles found haven't yet been chemically confirmed as plastic,
Microplastic Pollution and Coastal Anthropogenic Pressure in the Caspian Sea Basin Through Systematic Review and Secondary Data Analysis
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Tiny plastic fibers and fragments are showing up along the Caspian Sea coastline, including in protected nature areas, as this region sees more tourism, shipping, and waste, and scientists say we still don't know enough about it because most research has focused on just one part of the sea. This matters because microplastics can end up in the fish and seafood people eat from this region, but this study (which combines a review of past research with new field observations) shows we need much more monitoring before we can fully understand the health risks.
Harmonized analytical dataset and visual outputs on microplastic pollution and coastal anthropogenic pressure in the Caspian Sea Basin
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Researchers pulled together existing data on microplastic pollution in the Caspian Sea—the world's largest inland body of water—along with information on nearby waste, shipping, and tourism activity, creating an organized dataset for future study. This matters because the Caspian Sea provides food and drinking water sources for millions of people in the surrounding countries, and understanding where plastic pollution is coming from is a first step toward figuring out how it might affect the fish we eat and the water we drink. Importantly, the particles found in this region haven't yet been chemically confirmed as plastic through lab testing, so this dataset is more of a foundation for
Distribution and Characterization of Microplastics in Surface Waters and the Southern Caspian Sea Coasts Sediments
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Researchers investigated the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in surface waters and coastal sediments of the southern Caspian Sea across eight sampling stations, documenting concentrations and polymer types in the world's largest enclosed aquatic ecosystem.
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