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Detection of anthropogenic fibres in marine organisms: Knowledge gaps and methodological issues
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This review of studies on anthropogenic fibres in marine organisms found that fibres are systematically underrepresented in published data due to contamination concerns and methodological inconsistencies, calling for standardized protocols specifically designed for fibre analysis in marine tissue samples.
Most studies examining the occurrence of plastics and microplastics in marine organisms have identified anthropogenic fibres, of natural and synthetic origin, as the most commonly occurring category. Anthropogenic fibres may have been chemically treated with additives making them more persistent and a potential threat to marine organisms. However, fibres have often been excluded from analytical data for the difficulties related to the sampling and analytical procedures, including potential overestimation of the results due to airborne contamination. This review aimed to collect and analyse all studies focusing on the interaction between anthropogenic fibres and marine organisms worldwide, highlighting critical issues that need to be overcome for the analysis fibres on marine organisms. Furthermore, emphasis was placed on the species studied in the Mediterranean Sea, which is particularly affected by this type of pollution. Overall, this review shows that fibre pollution is an underestimated threat to marine organisms and that a specific, harmonised protocol for the analysis of different anthropogenic fibres needs to be developed.
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Anthropogenic fibers in the Mediterranean sea: Methods and monitoring of an overlooked category of microparticles in the water column.
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Researchers evaluated methods for monitoring anthropogenic fibers, including synthetic and natural types, in the Mediterranean Sea water column, comparing two sampling approaches and highlighting that current methods are underdeveloped for capturing this overlooked category of microparticles.
Synthetic microfibers in the marine environment: A review on their occurrence in seawater and sediments.
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This review synthesized available data on synthetic microfiber concentrations in marine seawater and sediments, finding fibers in all reviewed studies and noting that blue fibers and polypropylene are the most common types. The review highlights the lack of standardized sampling and reporting methods, making cross-study comparisons difficult.
Marine environment microfiber contamination: Global patterns and the diversity of microparticle origins
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This review examines microfiber contamination in marine environments globally, noting that both synthetic and non-synthetic fibers are common pollutants but that non-synthetic fibers are routinely undercounted in studies. The authors argue that focusing only on synthetic microplastics understates the true scale of microparticle pollution entering the ocean.
Overview of global status of plastic presence in marine vertebrates
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A review of 112 studies on plastic ingestion by marine vertebrates (sea turtles, cetaceans, fish) found widespread occurrence across species and ocean regions, with methodological inconsistencies preventing reliable global comparisons and underscoring the need for standardized protocols.
Critical reassessment of microplastic detection methodologies and abundances in the marine environment
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This review critically reassesses methodological limitations in marine microplastic detection, arguing that inconsistent size fractionation, incomplete polymer identification, and lack of standardized protocols across studies prevent reliable estimation of global MP abundance in the marine environment.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.