We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastics as novel sedimentary particles in coastal wetlands: A review
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examined microplastics as novel sedimentary particles in coastal wetlands, arguing that their ubiquity, persistence, and interactions with natural particles warrant treating them as a new class of sedimentary material. The authors found that plastics buried in wetland sediments may be retained for longer than models predict due to high accretion rates, and suggest they can serve as historical pollution markers.
Coastal wetlands are often neglected in marine debris studies. Interactions of plastics with natural particles are also largely understudied across all ecosystems but are becoming the focus of an emerging field on plastic cycling. Some studies have investigated short-term interactions, and some models predict short turnover times at the sediment surface on open shorelines. However, buried plastics may be retained longer in wetlands where accretion is often high, and some studies suggest their use as historical markers. The ubiquity, persistence, and behavior of plastic particles within wetlands warrants their consideration as novel sedimentary particles. Viewing plastics in this context will allow land managers to better predict how these vulnerable systems respond to increasing inputs of plastic pollution. This review evaluates debris distributions in coastal wetland sediments, heteroaggregation, plastic degradation within sediments, and persistence of plastic in the sedimentary record to highlight knowledge gaps and opportunities in this rapidly developing field.
More Papers Like This
Source, fate, toxicity, and remediation of micro-plastic in wetlands: A critical review
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter, accumulate in, and damage natural wetlands — ecosystems that filter water and support biodiversity — finding that while wetlands may actually trap plastic particles like a sink, the resulting contamination poses serious ecological risks that are still poorly understood.
A Review of Microplastics in Aquatic Sediments: Occurrence, Fate, Transport, and Ecological Impact
AI summary Read the abstract
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.
Non-negligible impact of microplastics on wetland ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
This review examines microplastic pollution in wetland ecosystems, which sit between land and water and act as natural filters. Microplastics in wetlands come from sewage, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition, with polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments being the most common types found. The paper highlights that microplastics can harm wetland plants, animals, and microbes, and may even increase greenhouse gas emissions by serving as an unusual carbon source for soil microorganisms.
A review on microplastics pollution in coastal wetlands
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers reviewed existing studies on microplastic pollution in coastal wetlands — ecosystems like mangroves, salt marshes, and tidal flats — summarizing where microplastics accumulate, how they get there, and how they affect wildlife and ecosystem function. These habitats are especially vulnerable because they sit at the boundary between land and sea, trapping plastics carried by both rivers and ocean tides.
Fate and Effects of Macro- and Microplastics in Coastal Wetlands
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compiled data from 112 studies to evaluate how macro- and microplastics accumulate in and affect coastal wetlands including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. They found that plastic concentrations in wetland sediments and marine animals were roughly 200 times higher than in the water column, indicating these ecosystems act as major plastic sinks. The study warns that plastic accumulation can alter sediment properties, harm wildlife, and disrupt the carbon storage function of these critical habitats.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.