Distribution Characteristics and Transport Processes of Biodegradable Microplastics in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan

Occurrence, Fate, and Biodegradation of Microplastics in Marine Environments

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics — synthetic polymer fragments smaller than 5mm — spread through marine environments, persist over long periods, and undergo partial biodegradation. The widespread distribution of these particles in oceans raises ongoing concerns about their effects on marine life and the humans who eat seafood.

Tracing the Footprint of Microplastics: Transport Mechanism, Degradation, and Remediation in Marine Environment

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Researchers synthesized current knowledge on microplastic transport, degradation, and remediation in marine environments, examining how the high surface-area-to-volume ratio of these particles enables them to bind heavy metals, antibiotics, and persistent organic pollutants — amplifying their ecological impact across ocean systems.

Analysis of small microplastics in coastal surface water samples of the subtropical island of Okinawa, Japan

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in surface waters in the western Pacific Ocean

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Surface water sampling across the western Pacific Ocean detected microplastics at an average of 0.37 particles/m³ in all sampled locations, with fibers and fragments under 1 mm predominating and significantly higher concentrations near seamount areas than the South China Sea. The study establishes baseline contamination data for a vast understudied ocean region and reveals that oceanic circulation patterns actively concentrate microplastics even at remote deep-sea topographic features.

Research progress on distribution, sources, identification, toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics in the ocean, freshwater, and soil environment

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This comprehensive review maps the distribution, sources, identification methods, toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics across oceanic, freshwater, and soil environments. The synthesis underscores that microplastics are persistent global pollutants with broad ecological and health impacts, while microbial biodegradation offers a promising avenue for remediation.