Microplastic assessment in the benthic ecosystem of Tokyo Bay: Sediment, water, and macrobenthic perspectives

A Review of Microplastics in Aquatic Sediments: Occurrence, Fate, Transport, and Ecological Impact

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Researchers reviewed how microplastics accumulate in aquatic sediments — particularly the ocean floor — finding that sediments act as a long-term sink where plastics alter microbial communities and harm bottom-dwelling organisms, meaning the ecological damage of plastic pollution extends far beyond what is visible at the water surface.

Research Progress on Sources and EcologicalEffects of Microplastics in Sediments

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This review synthesizes research on the sources and ecological effects of microplastics in sediments, tracing transport pathways from terrestrial runoff through freshwater systems to marine sediment sinks and documenting impacts on benthic organisms and ecosystem function. Sediments serve as long-term reservoirs of microplastic pollution, making sediment ecology a critical lens for understanding cumulative environmental burden and food chain exposure risks posed by plastic debris.

Microplastics Abundance in Aquatic Environment and its Impact on Macrobenthos

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Researchers reviewed how microplastic pollution affects macrobenthic communities across marine and freshwater ecosystems, documenting impaired feeding, oxidative damage, and developmental defects in organisms ranging from sponges and corals to mollusks, crustaceans, and echinoderms.

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

Microplastics in the Marine Ecosystems: Identification and Impacts

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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics, broken-down bits of everyday plastic waste, are showing up along India's coastlines, and this review paper rounds up what scientists have found so far. While research on their health effects is still catching up, these particles are known to persist in the environment and can enter the food chain through seafood, raising concerns about long-term exposure for coastal communities. The authors point out that India still needs a lot more research to fully understand how serious this problem is and what it means for people's health.