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Environmental Sources
Marine & Wildlife
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Learning from natural sediments to tackle microplastics challenges: A multidisciplinary perspective
Earth-Science Reviews2022
210 citations
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Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 55
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0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Florian Pohl,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Florian Pohl,
Nan Wu
Kryss Waldschläger,
Nan Wu
Florian Pohl,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Florian Pohl,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Florian Pohl,
Nan Wu
Nan Wu
Sara L. Belontz,
Win Cowger,
Nan Wu
Nan Wu
Florian Pohl,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Nan Wu
Florian Pohl,
Catherine Russell,
Catherine Russell,
Nan Wu
Catherine Russell,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Catherine Russell,
Arianna Varrani,
Arianna Varrani,
Win Cowger,
Arianna Varrani,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Nan Wu
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Nan Wu
Win Cowger,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Merel Kooi,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Merel Kooi,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Merel Kooi,
Sara L. Belontz,
Muriel Brückner,
Amalie Thit,
Win Cowger,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Sara L. Belontz,
Win Cowger,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Win Cowger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Sara L. Belontz,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Merel Kooi,
Win Cowger,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Win Cowger,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Ian Kane,
Tor Nordam,
Tor Nordam,
Tor Nordam,
Tor Nordam,
Tor Nordam,
Tor Nordam,
Nan Wu
Kryss Waldschläger,
Daniel Valero,
Win Cowger,
Sara L. Belontz,
Nan Wu
Andrew B. Gray,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Nan Wu
Kryss Waldschläger,
Andrew B. Gray,
Sara L. Belontz,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Nan Wu
Win Cowger,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Win Cowger,
Darragh Doyle,
Win Cowger,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Darragh Doyle,
Darragh Doyle,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Merel Kooi,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Merel Kooi,
Darragh Doyle,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Merel Kooi,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Florian Pohl,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Win Cowger,
Merel Kooi,
Nan Wu
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Muriel Brückner,
Muriel Brückner,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Daniel Valero,
Daniel Valero,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Daniel Valero,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Darragh Doyle,
Darragh Doyle,
Darragh Doyle,
Darragh Doyle,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Florian Pohl,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Ian Kane,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Win Cowger,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Sara L. Belontz,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Merel Kooi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Andrew B. Gray,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Andrew B. Gray,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Simone Lechthaler,
Merel Kooi,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Merel Kooi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Nan Wu
Ian Kane,
Nan Wu
Ian Kane,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Andrew B. Gray,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Merel Kooi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Merel Kooi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Win Cowger,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Christopher Hackney,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Christopher Hackney,
Merel Kooi,
Andrew B. Gray,
Merel Kooi,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Andrew B. Gray,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Merel Kooi,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Florian Pohl,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Florian Pohl,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Andrew B. Gray,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Merel Kooi,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Andrew B. Gray,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Win Cowger,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Ian Kane,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Win Cowger,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Christopher Hackney,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Christopher Hackney,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Ian Kane,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Matthias Kramer,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Simone Lechthaler,
Win Cowger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Simone Lechthaler,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Amalie Thit,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Florian Pohl,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Florian Pohl,
Florian Pohl,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Florian Pohl,
Nan Wu
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Andrew B. Gray,
Merel Kooi,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Ian Kane,
Win Cowger,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Ian Kane,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Darragh Doyle,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Olubukola S. Alimi,
Laura Michie,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Nan Wu
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Darragh Doyle,
Darragh Doyle,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Ian Kane,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Win Cowger,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Florian Pohl,
Win Cowger,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Ian Kane,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Sara L. Belontz,
Sara L. Belontz,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Florian Pohl,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Florian Pohl,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Catherine Russell,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Amalie Thit,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Win Cowger,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Win Cowger,
Darragh Doyle,
Darragh Doyle,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Wajid Umar,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Win Cowger,
Andrew B. Gray,
Florian Pohl,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Andrew B. Gray,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Ian Kane,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Nan Wu
Ian Kane,
Laura Michie,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Merel Kooi,
Merel Kooi,
Darragh Doyle,
Bethanie Carney Almroth,
Matthias Kramer,
Matthias Kramer,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Andrew B. Gray,
Simone Lechthaler,
Simone Lechthaler,
Laura Michie,
Laura Michie,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Tor Nordam,
Tor Nordam,
Win Cowger,
Florian Pohl,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Florian Pohl,
Andrew B. Gray,
Andrew B. Gray,
Catherine Russell,
Catherine Russell,
Amalie Thit,
Win Cowger,
Amalie Thit,
Wajid Umar,
Andrew B. Gray,
Wajid Umar,
Daniel Valero,
Daniel Valero,
Arianna Varrani,
Arianna Varrani,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Anish Kumar Warrier,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Win Cowger,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Nan Wu
Nan Wu
Andrew B. Gray,
Tanveer M. Adyel,
Kryss Waldschläger,
Lucy C. Woodall,
Nan Wu
Summary
Researchers drew on decades of sediment science to propose seven research priorities for improving microplastic studies, including better particle description, transport modeling, and toxicity assessment methods adapted from geology. This cross-disciplinary approach could accelerate understanding of how microplastics move through rivers, oceans, and ecosystems and how they harm living organisms.
Although the study of microplastics in the aquatic environment incorporates a diversity of research fields, it is still in its infancy in many aspects while comparable topics have been studied in other disciplines for decades. In particular, extensive research in sedimentology can provide valuable insights to guide future microplastics research. To advance our understanding of the comparability of natural sediments with microplastics, we take an interdisciplinary look at the existing literature describing particle properties, transport processes, sampling techniques and ecotoxicology. Based on our analysis, we define seven research goals that are essential to improve our understanding of microplastics and can be tackled by learning from natural sediment research, and identify relevant tasks to achieve each goal. These goals address (1) the description of microplastic particles, (2) the interaction of microplastics with environmental substances, (3) the vertical distribution of microplastics, (4) the erosion and deposition behaviour of microplastics, (5) the impact of biota on microplastic transport, (6) the sampling methods and (7) the microplastic toxicity. When describing microplastic particles, we should specifically draw from the knowledge of natural sediments, for example by using shape factors or applying methods for determining the principal dimensions of non-spherical particles. Sediment transport offers many fundamentals that are transferable to microplastic transport, and could be usefully applied. However, major knowledge gaps still exist in understanding the role of transport modes, the influence of biota on microplastic transport, and the importance and implementation of the dynamic behaviour of microplastics as a result of time-dependent changes in particle properties in numerical models. We give an overview of available sampling methods from sedimentology and discuss their suitability for microplastic sampling, which can be used for creating standardised guidelines for future application with microplastics. In order to comprehensively assess the ecotoxicology of microplastics, a distinction must be made between the effects of the polymers themselves, their physical form, the plastic-associated chemicals and the attached pollutants. This review highlights areas where we can rely on understanding and techniques from sediment research - and areas where we need new, microplastic-specific knowledge - and synthesize recommendations to guide future, interdisciplinary microplastic research.