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Caspian microplastic evidence dataset
Summary
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.
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.