Abundance and distribution of microplastics on sandy beaches of remote islands of Okinawa, southern Japan

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

The abundance, characteristics and diversity of microplastics in the South China Sea: Observation around three remote islands

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Floating microplastics in the South China Sea around three remote islands reached median concentrations of 1.9×10⁵ items/km², with polypropylene dominating and transparent films comprising the majority — pointing to household and agricultural plastic consumption as primary sources. Fish and mollusks in these waters were also found to have ingested microplastics, confirming active bioaccumulation in marine food webs of a region surrounded by high-plastic-use emerging markets.

Spatiotemporal distribution and diversity of microplastics in the sediment of beaches in Xiamen City, China

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Researchers surveying beaches in Xiamen, China found that microplastic pollution levels varied significantly by season and location, with human activity patterns driving contamination in ways that highlight coastal tourism and urban runoff as key sources requiring targeted management.

Distribution and composition of microplastics in coastal sediments of urban and rural islands in the Maldives

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This study found microplastic contamination in coastal sediments across all sampled urban and rural islands in the Maldives, with over 90% of particles smaller than 50 micrometers and dominated by polyamide, polyethylene, and polystyrene—patterns suggesting both local waste inputs and ocean-scale transport contribute to contamination across the archipelago.

Microplastic Accumulation Patterns in Sand at Three Hawaiian Beaches

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Microplastics were found at all sampled shore zones across three Hawaiian beaches, with fibers dominating at every site and concentrations highest at established beaches compared to a newly formed volcanic beach. The detection of microplastics even in newly created sediment just four months after beach formation suggests that ocean currents rapidly redistribute plastic contamination to any available coastline.