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

Sources and pathways for marine litter: Bottom up approach starting from local case-studies for the four European regional seas

From Land to Sea: Model for the Documentation of Land-Sourced Plastic Litter

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A systematic model was developed to document and quantify land-sourced plastic litter pathways from point of disposal to ocean entry, providing a structured framework for tracking how improperly discarded plastic on land ultimately contributes to marine microplastic pollution. Better documentation of land-to-sea transport routes is essential for targeting waste management interventions at the highest-impact points in the plastic pollution pipeline.

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.

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Sources, Distribution, Biological Effects and Socio-Economic Impacts

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Researchers reviewed the sources, distribution, biological effects, and socioeconomic impacts of microplastic pollution in marine environments, finding that rivers and estuaries are the primary land-to-ocean transport pathways. The review emphasizes that microplastics transfer adsorbed pollutants and additives through food webs to top predators, and that reducing plastic production and improving waste management are essential long-term solutions.

Fate of Plastics in the Ocean Environment: The Plastic Odyssey

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This work traces the full lifecycle of plastic debris in marine environments — from land-based and ocean-based entry points through fragmentation, UV degradation, biofouling, and deep-sea accumulation — synthesizing the physical and chemical processes that govern plastic fate in the ocean. Understanding these transport and degradation pathways is critical for predicting where microplastics concentrate in marine food webs and designing effective interventions to prevent their accumulation in seafood and ocean ecosystems.