Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Decoding the Plastic Patch: Exploring the Global Microplastic Distribution in the Surface Layers of Marine Regions with Interpretable Machine Learning

Researchers used interpretable machine learning algorithms to predict global marine microplastic distribution patterns based on calibrated field data. The study found that biogeochemical and human activity factors had the greatest influence on microplastic concentrations, which ranged from about 0.2 to 27 particles per cubic meter across the world's oceans, providing a framework for pollution management and decision-making.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal Forecasting and Environmental Driver Modeling of Marine Microplastic Pollution: an Interpretable Deep Learning Approach for Sustainable Ocean Policy

Researchers developed an interpretable deep learning model integrating historical microplastic sampling data, seasonal patterns, and large-scale ocean-atmosphere climate indices to forecast spatiotemporal marine microplastic distribution, identifying climate drivers and offering a policy-relevant tool for ocean pollution management.

2025
Article Tier 2

Prediction of microplastic abundance in surface water of the ocean and influencing factors based on ensemble learning

Researchers used machine learning to predict microplastic levels in ocean surface waters and identify the key factors driving contamination. Their models found that geographic location, ocean currents, and proximity to populated coastlines were major predictors of microplastic abundance. This approach could help scientists map pollution hotspots without costly and time-consuming physical sampling.

2023 Environmental Pollution 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Global distribution of marine microplastics and potential for biodegradation

Researchers created a global map predicting marine microplastic pollution using machine learning based on over 9,400 samples and assessed the potential for biodegradation using marine metagenome data. The study found that microplastics converge in subtropical gyres and polar seas, and identified marine microbial communities with genetic potential for plastic biodegradation, suggesting nature may offer partial solutions to this pollution problem.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Mapping the plastic legacy: Geospatial predictions of a microplastic inventory in a complex estuarine system using machine learning

Researchers applied machine learning techniques to develop geospatial predictions of microplastic inventory in a complex estuarine system, overcoming the limitations of coarse ocean basin models by accounting for the intricate geomorphological and hydrodynamic conditions that govern sediment-associated microplastic distribution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

A Predictive Framework for Marine Microplastic Pollution using Machine Learning and Spatial Analysis

Researchers developed a machine learning framework integrated with geospatial analysis to predict microplastic pollution density across ocean regions. The Gradient Boosting model achieved the highest accuracy with 97% predictive performance, and spatial visualizations revealed pollution hotspots concentrated near industrial coastlines and major ocean current pathways.

2025 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the response of bacterial community functions to microplastic features in lake ecosystems through interpretable machine learning

Researchers used machine learning models to investigate how different characteristics of microplastics affect bacterial communities in lake ecosystems. They found that the color, shape, and polymer type of microplastics all influenced bacterial functions related to carbon and nitrogen cycling and human health. The study suggests that specific microplastic features, such as yellow coloring and PET polymer type, have distinct impacts on microbial communities in freshwater environments.

2025 Environmental Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Enhanced Microplastic Aggregation Prediction via Deep Learning and Spectral Analysis of Marine Snow Composition

Researchers developed a deep learning framework called the Spectral-Enhanced Aggregation Prediction Network that integrates spectral analysis of marine snow to improve prediction of microplastic aggregation rates in the ocean, addressing limitations of current models that struggle with the complex interplay of biological, chemical, and physical factors.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Enhanced Microplastic Aggregation Prediction via Deep Learning and Spectral Analysis of Marine Snow Composition

Researchers developed a deep learning framework called the Spectral-Enhanced Aggregation Prediction Network that integrates spectral analysis of marine snow to improve prediction of microplastic aggregation rates in the ocean, addressing limitations of current models that struggle with the complex interplay of biological, chemical, and physical factors.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic deposit predictions on sandy beaches by geotechnologies and machine learning models

Researchers used geotechnologies and machine learning models to predict microplastic deposition hotspots on sandy beaches, identifying environmental and anthropogenic variables that drive spatial variation in beach microplastic accumulation.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Mapping the Plastic Legacy: Geospatial Predictions of a Microplastic Inventory in a Complex Estuarine System Using Machine Learning

Researchers applied machine learning geospatial modelling to predict microplastic distribution across a complex estuarine system, using sediment samples as a training dataset to generate spatial inventory maps of microplastic accumulation. The model leveraged the estuary's role as a land-sea interface and plastic accumulation bottleneck to produce high-resolution predictions of microplastic hotspots for monitoring and management purposes.

2024
Article Tier 2

Machine learning models for forecasting microplastic dynamics in China’s coastal waters

Researchers used machine learning to analyze microplastic pollution patterns across China's four major coastal seas, drawing on over 1,100 data points from peer-reviewed studies. They found that urban centers and industrial activities are key drivers of contamination, with pollution levels varying significantly between marine, coastal, and estuary environments. The models project that economic development and education could reduce microplastic concentrations, while industrial expansion may increase them.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Global mapping for the occurrence of all-sized microplastics in seafloor sediments

Researchers developed code for extracting ocean surface current and near-bed thermohaline current data to analyze the hydrodynamic driving forces behind global microplastic distribution patterns in seafloor sediments.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Enhanced spatiotemporal mapping of urban wetland microplastics: An interpretable CNN-GRU approach using satellite imagery and limited samples

Researchers built an interpretable CNN-GRU deep learning model combining satellite remote sensing with limited in-situ measurements to map microplastic distribution in urban wetlands with enhanced spatiotemporal resolution, enabling more comprehensive monitoring with less field sampling.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety
Article Tier 2

[Overview of the Application of Machine Learning for Identification and Environmental Risk Assessment of Microplastics].

This review examines the application of machine learning (ML) methods for identifying microplastics and assessing their environmental risks, covering techniques for improving the accuracy and reliability of microplastic detection across different environmental media. Researchers highlight how ML can systematically analyse pollution characteristics and support ecological risk evaluation of microplastic contamination.

2024 PubMed 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of environmental and socioeconomic drivers of urban stormwater microplastics using machine learning

Using machine learning on data from 107 urban areas worldwide, researchers identified the key factors driving microplastic levels in stormwater runoff, including weather patterns, land use, and waste management practices. The study found that inconsistent definitions of what counts as a "microplastic" across different studies is a major barrier to comparing contamination levels between cities.

2025 Scientific Reports 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Predictive modeling of microplastic adsorption in aquatic environments using advanced machine learning models

Scientists used advanced machine learning models to predict how microplastics interact with and absorb organic pollutants in water. The results showed that microplastics with certain chemical properties attract more toxic compounds, which matters because contaminated microplastics in waterways can concentrate harmful chemicals that may eventually reach humans through drinking water and seafood.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 20 citations
Article Tier 2

GoogLeNet-Based Deep Learning Framework for Underwater Microplastic Classification in Marine Environments

Researchers trained a GoogLeNet deep learning model on underwater images to classify microplastics into four categories, achieving strong classification performance for primary microplastics, secondary microplastics, non-microplastic debris, and marine biota in turbid coastal waters.

2025
Article Tier 2

Elucidating microplastic adsorption mechanisms in biomass composite materials through interpretable machine learning

Researchers used interpretable machine learning to study how biomass composite materials adsorb microplastics from water. They found that initial microplastic concentration and surface electrical potential were the most important factors determining adsorption effectiveness. The study demonstrates that data-driven approaches can help design more efficient and sustainable materials for removing microplastics from contaminated water.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Predicting aqueous sorption of organic pollutants on microplastics with machine learning

Researchers developed machine learning models to predict how organic pollutants bind to microplastics in water, using data from 475 published experiments. The models outperformed traditional approaches by accounting for properties of both the microplastics and the pollutants simultaneously. The study provides a more universal tool for understanding how microplastics can transport and concentrate harmful chemicals in freshwater systems.

2023 Water Research 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Machine Learning to Predict the Adsorption Capacity of Microplastics

Researchers developed machine learning models to predict the adsorption capacity of microplastics for chemical pollutants, providing a computational tool to better understand how microplastics act as vectors for contaminant dispersal in aquatic environments.

2023 Nanomaterials 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic deposits prediction on Urban Sandy Beaches: Integrating Remote Sensing, GNSS Positioning, µ-Raman Spectroscopy, and Machine Learning Models

Researchers integrated remote sensing, GNSS altimetric surveys, micro-Raman spectroscopy, and machine learning models to predict microplastic deposition patterns on urban sandy beaches along the central Sao Paulo coastline, finding MP concentrations ranging from 6 to 35 MPs/m2.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Exploring action-law of microplastic abundance variation in river waters at coastal regions of China based on machine learning prediction

Researchers used machine learning to predict microplastic levels in rivers across seven coastal regions of China, identifying population density, urbanization, and industrial activity as the strongest predictors of contamination. The models successfully captured how microplastics accumulate and move through river systems using 19 different environmental and human factors. This approach could reduce the need for costly field sampling while helping target pollution management efforts where they are needed most.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Machine learning may accelerate the recognition and control of microplastic pollution: Future prospects

This review examines how machine learning techniques including neural networks and random forests are being applied to microplastic detection, classification, and ecological risk assessment, demonstrating faster and more accurate results than traditional analytical methods. The authors identify data standardization and model interpretability as key challenges for broader adoption.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 63 citations