FRAM Pollution Observatory: Identifying sinks of marine litter and microplastics in all ecosystem compartments in the Fram Strait area

Microplastics in multiple environmental media along a land-sea continuum: Distribution, critical source areas, and management priorities from sources to sinks

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This comprehensive study tracked microplastic distribution across surface water, groundwater, and sediments throughout the Jiulong River basin in China, identifying distinct polymer patterns by media and spatial hotspots in the lower reaches. Mapping microplastic flow from terrestrial sources through river corridors to estuaries is critical for identifying intervention points where pollution control can most effectively reduce the quantity of microplastics reaching coastal marine environments and seafood.

The fate and impacts of microplastics in marine systems

Source, fate, and effects of plastic litters in the European land-sea continuum

Microplastics in Polar Samples

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Researchers reviewed what is known about microplastic contamination in polar environments — the Arctic and Antarctic — finding that despite their remoteness, these regions show measurable microplastic presence in water, ice, sediment, and wildlife. The findings suggest that atmospheric and ocean transport can carry microplastics to virtually every corner of the planet, including the most pristine environments.

Microplastics in Polar Samples

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Microplastics have been detected in polar samples including sea ice, water, sediments, and organisms, demonstrating that plastic contamination reaches even the most remote regions on Earth. This global dispersal confirms that no ecosystem is shielded from microplastic exposure, underscoring the scale of the pollution challenge.