Papers

Microplastics in Commercial Fishes in the River Ganga and Their Human Health Risk Assessment

Researchers analyzed gastrointestinal tracts and muscle tissue of four fish species from the Ganga River in India, finding microplastics in two-thirds of GI tracts and 15% of muscle samples, with Johnius coitor showing the highest contamination at 19 particles per gram.

Measuring the Level of Environmental Performance on Coastal Environment before and during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study from Cyprus

This study measured environmental performance indicators at Cypriot coastal tourism sites before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding that pandemic-related tourism reduction led to measurable improvements in coastal water quality and reduced plastic litter.

Global Decarbonization Enabled by a Novel Strategy of Biomineralization for Concrete Corrosion Inhibition

Despite its title referencing concrete corrosion and coastal infrastructure, this paper studies a biomineralization-based method for protecting marine concrete structures from corrosion in order to extend their lifespan and reduce greenhouse gas emissions — not microplastic pollution. It examines life-cycle carbon accounting for this construction technique and is not relevant to microplastics or human health.

Biodegradability of pots made from empty fruit clusters of the oil palm (Elaeis guinnensis Jacq.) for agroforestry use in the Ucayali Region, Peru

This study tested whether pots made from oil palm empty fruit bunches — a common agricultural waste — could biodegrade in soil instead of becoming microplastic pollution like conventional plastic nursery bags. Results showed the EFB-based pots broke down significantly under natural soil conditions, with degradation rates varying by environment (open, stored, or reforested soil). This matters because switching from plastic nursery bags to biodegradable alternatives could meaningfully reduce agricultural microplastic contamination.

Microplastic Contamination across Interconnected Seagrass Meadows and Coral Reefs: Divergent Patterns and Limited Convergence

A study of interconnected seagrass and coral reef habitats found that microplastics behave quite differently in the two ecosystems despite sharing the same water: seagrass meadows acted as filters that trapped larger microplastics, while smaller particles traveled on to accumulate on coral surfaces and tissues. Coral tissues showed a surprising preference for large, dense, transparent fibers — likely because corals mistake them for food. The results demonstrate that connected ecosystems can have very different microplastic exposure profiles, with corals at particular risk from ingestion.

Green nanomaterials as a sustainable technological alternative for the mitigation of the impact of plasticizers

Navigating spaces between conservation research and practice: Are we making progress?

This review examined progress in bridging the gap between conservation research and conservation practice over a decade, finding persistent mismatches remain between scientific findings and field implementation. While not directly about microplastics, this methodological discussion is relevant to applying research on plastic pollution impacts to real-world policy and management decisions.

Microplastic deposition flux and morphology in atmospheric fallouts of Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam) sampled from June 2018 until June 2019

Researchers measured the deposition flux and morphology of atmospheric microplastics in dry and wet fallout samples collected monthly over one year at three sites in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. They found consistent atmospheric microplastic deposition across all sites, with fibers and fragments being the most common types. The study provides one of the first quantitative atmospheric microplastic datasets for a major Southeast Asian megacity.