Papers

Microplastic Exposure for Pinnipeds (Pinnipedia): A Rapid Review

This review summarizes research on microplastic exposure in pinnipeds, including seals, sea lions, and walruses, drawing from 26 published studies. Researchers found that microplastics have been detected in pinniped scat, gastrointestinal tracts, and blubber, with the particles coming from both direct environmental intake and transfer through the food chain. The findings raise concerns about the long-term health effects of microplastic accumulation in these marine mammals, many of which are already under threat from other human-caused pressures.

Recent Insights into Microplastic Pollution and Its Effects on Soil Carbon: A Five-Year Ecosystem Review

This review of 46 studies examines how microplastics influence carbon cycling in different soil ecosystems. The majority of studies reported increased CO2 and methane emissions in soils containing microplastics, though some found opposite or neutral effects depending on soil type and the characteristics of the microplastics, highlighting the need for further research to understand these complex interactions.

Study on primary microplastics in cosmetics: their isolation, spectral and thermal analysis

Researchers analyzed eight personal care and cosmetic products to isolate and characterize intentionally added microplastics. They found that the standard combination of FTIR and Raman spectroscopy was not always sufficient for accurate detection, and that thermal analysis via DSC proved particularly useful for identifying microplastics when spectroscopic methods fell short.

Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers

Analysis of 60 water samples from the Eurasian Arctic found average microplastic concentrations of 0.004 items/m³ in surface net samples and 0.8 items/m³ in subsurface pump samples, with particle type and abundance differing significantly between Atlantic water masses and Siberian river plumes.

Research of microplastic content in experimental conditions

Researchers investigated microplastic content under experimental conditions, noting that millions of tons of microplastics enter the world's oceans each year. The study contributes to the growing body of research quantifying microplastic contamination in environmental samples. The findings add to the evidence base documenting the scale of microplastic pollution globally.

Modeling the Impact of Microplastics on Metabolic Rates andMortality of Zooplankton

Researchers developed a mathematical model to predict how microplastic exposure affects the metabolism and survival rates of zooplankton, the tiny animals that form the base of aquatic food chains. Understanding these effects is important because changes to zooplankton populations ripple upward through ecosystems to fish and the species that eat them.

On Structural Sensitivity Of Young’s Modulus Of Ni-Rich Ti-Ni Alloy

This study explored how varying the initial microstructure and aging-induced precipitation in a Ni-rich Ti-50.8 at% Ni alloy modulates its Young's modulus over a wide range, providing guidance for tailoring implant materials to match the mechanical properties of bone.

Assessment of seasonal variability of input of microplastics from the Northern Dvina River to the Arctic Ocean

Seasonal monitoring of floating microplastics and mesoplastics on the Northern Dvina River in the European Arctic was conducted at its mouth, finding that plastic loads varied substantially across seasons with peak concentrations during snowmelt and high-flow periods. The study estimates plastic inputs to the White Sea and Arctic Ocean from one of the largest rivers draining populated subarctic regions.

Microplastic variability in subsurface water from the Arctic to Antarctica

Using a standardized sampling and analytical method across five cruises from the Arctic to Antarctic, researchers detected microplastics throughout the global ocean, enabling direct comparisons of concentrations that are often hampered by methodological inconsistencies between studies.

Analysis of Slow-Released Fertilisers as a Source of Microplastics

Analysis of slow-release fertilisers coated with polymer shells found that these products can release microplastics into agricultural soils as the coatings degrade. Two major manufacturers' products showed varying polymer compositions and differing abilities to adsorb soil contaminants, raising concerns about MP accumulation from fertiliser use.

The Vertical Distribution of Microplastics in the Water Column of Lake Ladoga

Researchers measured the vertical distribution of microplastics in the water column of Lake Ladoga, Russia's largest lake, collecting samples at multiple depths and characterizing particle types and concentrations. Microplastic concentrations were highest in surface waters but significant quantities were found at depth, with fibres predominating throughout the water column.

Modelling the Influence from Biota and Organic Matter on the Transport Dynamics of Microplastics in the Water Column and Bottom Sediments in the Oslo Fjord

Researchers modeled how seasonal biological activity, biofouling, and zooplankton fecal pellet production affect the vertical transport and sediment burial of microplastics in Oslo Fjord. The model demonstrated that biotic factors significantly alter microplastic sinking rates and sediment accumulation patterns across seasons.

Concentration of Trace Elements in Cryoconites of Mountain and Polar Regions of the World

This paper is not about microplastics; it analyzes trace element (heavy metal) concentrations in cryoconite deposits on glaciers in Arctic, Antarctic, and Caucasian regions.

Surface microplastics in the Kara Sea: from the Kara Gate to the 83°N

A survey across the Kara Sea in the Russian Arctic found an average microplastic concentration of 0.124 items per cubic meter of surface water, with the highest levels at the Kara Gate strait — the main entry point from the Atlantic — suggesting external ocean inputs rather than the Ob and Yenisey rivers are the dominant source. The semi-enclosed geography of the Kara Sea means it may act as a trap for incoming microplastics, making it a pollution accumulation zone despite its remote location.

Study of microplastic content in fish in the Neva River and Lake Ladoga

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in fish from the Neva River and Lake Ladoga in Russia, situating the findings within the global context of widespread plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems. The study highlighted the difficulty of natural plastic decomposition and the ongoing accumulation of microplastics in freshwater systems, with UNESCO estimates of 8-10 million tonnes entering seas annually.

The Effect of Applying Model Nanoplastic Particles to Soil on the Composition of Its Microbial Community

Researchers conducted a one-month laboratory incubation experiment applying 0.55 µm polystyrene latex nanoplastics to soil to investigate effects on microbial community composition, finding that nanoplastic contamination altered soil microorganism diversity and activity in ways dependent on soil physicochemical properties and nanoplastic concentration.

Preliminary Proposal for Standardizing the Protocol for the Determination of Microplastics’ Influence on the CO2 and/or CH4 Emission in Agricultural Soils

Researchers proposed a standardized protocol for determining the influence of microplastics on CO2 and CH4 emissions in agricultural soils, addressing the lack of comparability across existing research methodologies. Key recommendations include stringent contamination controls, selection of microplastic types and concentrations representative of agricultural environments, consistent experiment durations, and use of gas chromatography for analysis.

Food wastes as valuable resources producing agricultural fertilizers: a comprehensive review

Comparing the efficiency of two water sampling methods for studying the content of microplastics in water bodies

Researchers compared the effectiveness of pump filtration and Manta trawl sampling methods for measuring microplastic content in Lake Ladoga, the Svir River, and three smaller lakes in Russia's Leningrad region. Despite higher average concentrations recorded with the pump system, the study found that method selection significantly affects results, underscoring the difficulty of comparing data across studies using different sampling approaches.

Mineralogical–Geochemical Characteristics of the Snow Cover in Areas with Mining and Ore-Processing Facilities

This study characterized the mineral and chemical composition of snow near mining operations in Russia, finding elevated metals and particulate pollution. While focused on mining pollution, the research highlights how airborne particles—including plastic microfibers—can be deposited and tracked in snow.

Legal protection of Lake Baikal from microplastics

This study examines the legal frameworks needed to protect Lake Baikal from increasing microplastic pollution, analyzing existing Russian environmental law alongside international and comparative foreign legislation. The authors recommend a set of interrelated general and region-specific legal measures targeting both primary and secondary microplastic sources within the Baikal natural territory.

Effects of Particle Shape and Surface Structure on the Adsorption Properties of Polystyrene Microplastics

Researchers analyzed how particle shape and surface structure affect the adsorption properties of polystyrene microplastics toward organic pollutants, reviewing experimental literature to disentangle the influence of surface layer morphology from bulk particle characteristics. The study found that surface porosity and roughness significantly modify adsorption capacity and kinetics, cautioning that results from idealized model spheres may not accurately represent the behavior of environmentally aged or irregularly shaped microplastic particles.

Cardiac activity in the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis Lamarck, 1819) as a biomarker for assessing sea water quality in Boka Kotorska Bay, South Adriatic Sea

The heart rates of Mediterranean mussels were used to assess water quality at three sites in Montenegro's Boka Kotorska Bay, with mussels near the port showing the poorest health. Mussels are widely used as sentinel organisms for microplastic and chemical pollution because they filter large volumes of water and accumulate contaminants.

Assessment of microplastic debris content in the coastal areas of the Neva Bay

This study assessed microplastic contamination levels along coastal areas of Neva Bay in Russia, documenting plastic particle distribution near urban areas. The authors note gaps in standardized monitoring methods and monitoring station coverage that make it difficult to identify trends in microplastic distribution over time.