Papers

61,005 results
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Review Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in coastal areas of Colombia: Review

This review summarized the state of microplastic research in Colombia's coastal areas, finding that Caribbean coasts are most contaminated with secondary polypropylene and polyethylene microplastics in sediments, and that 7% of 302 fish species sampled contained microplastics, while noting a lack of standardized methods across studies.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics in coastal surface waters of the Colombian Caribbean and Pacific

This study documented microplastic abundance, distribution, and characteristics across Colombian Caribbean and Pacific coastal surface waters during the 2017 rainy season, finding concentrations up to 8.96 items per square meter and establishing the first national baseline for microplastic pollution in Colombian coastal waters.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Approaches to understanding and monitoring sources, distribution, and fate of plastic waste generated on the Peruvian coast

Researchers established monitoring approaches for plastic waste sources, distribution, and fate along the Peruvian coast through the REMARCO Regional Citizen Science Programme, quantifying inputs from Lima and Callao, mapping pollution pathways from sources to marine environments, and building national capacity for microplastic monitoring in sandy beaches.

2025
Article Tier 2

Plastic litter pollution along sandy beaches in the Caribbean and Pacific coast of Colombia

Researchers surveyed plastic litter pollution on 43 beaches along Colombia's Caribbean and Pacific coasts, documenting the types and quantities present and calling for locally adapted management strategies.

2020 Environmental Pollution 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution on Colombian Central Caribbean beaches

Researchers conducted a baseline survey of microplastic contamination on Colombia's Central Caribbean Coast beaches, documenting MP types, sizes, and polymer compositions for the first time in that region and finding primarily secondary microplastics from fragmented larger debris.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 133 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental risks due to the presence of microplastics in coastal and marine environments of the Colombian Caribbean

This study assessed ecological risks from microplastics in coastal and marine environments of the Colombian Caribbean, noting that COVID-19 pandemic disposables such as masks and disinfectant containers exacerbated plastic inputs. The review identified distribution patterns and risk levels across different coastal zones.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic pollution along the Caribbean coast of La Guajira, Colombia

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic pollution along 125 km of the Caribbean coast of La Guajira, Colombia. They found microplastics at four of seven beaches sampled, with filaments from fishing activities predominating and polymers primarily consisting of polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Invisible Footprints: Exploring Microplastic Pollution in the Colombian Caribbean Sea

Researchers documented microplastic contamination throughout the surface and mid-waters of the Colombian Caribbean, detecting plastic particles in every single water sample collected across 16 stations in two departments. Concentrations were higher near the coast and in areas with strong river influence, with fibers and fragments of PET and polypropylene most common, and several rare high-risk polymers also detected. As one of the first systematic studies of its kind in this region, the work establishes baseline data for a relatively understudied stretch of the Caribbean and identifies urban river inputs as a key contamination driver.

2026 Water
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics: Impacts in a marine-coastal environment of the Colombian Caribbean

Researchers surveyed microplastic presence in a marine-coastal environment in Colombia, characterizing particle abundance, polymer types, and size distribution in water and sediment samples. Fibres dominated the samples, with polyester and nylon the most common polymers, pointing to synthetic textile washing as a key local source.

2024 Global Journal of Ecology
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems: spatiotemporal assessment in beach sediments of protected coastal areas

Researchers conducted a spatiotemporal assessment of plastic pollution including microplastics in beach sediments across 13 beaches in marine protected areas in Colombia and the Canary Islands, Spain, evaluating plastic debris under varying environmental conditions in ecologically sensitive coastal zones.

2025
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and increase of microplastics over time in sediments of Buenaventura Bay, Colombian Pacific

Microplastic concentrations in sediment cores from Buenaventura Bay in Colombia increased substantially over time from the 1980s to the present, with depth profiles reflecting the history of regional plastic use, and current surface sediment concentrations among the highest reported for South American coastal systems.

2021 Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics of surface waters of Colombian Caribbean

Researchers collected and characterized microplastics from the surface waters of two Colombian Caribbean sectors influenced by major rivers, sampling across dry and rainy seasons and also analyzing the microbial communities living on the plastic surfaces. The study provides baseline pollution data for a region where microplastic research has been minimal, while the metagenomic analysis of plastisphere microbes adds ecological context. Understanding which microbes colonize plastic in tropical Caribbean waters is relevant to assessing whether those particles serve as vectors for harmful or antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Coastal populations and river discharges as sources of microplastic pollution of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in surface waters of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta coastal lagoon in Colombia and assessed the contribution of coastal populations and river discharges as pollution sources. MPs were detected throughout this internationally protected Ramsar site, with proximity to populated areas and river inputs driving spatial variation in contamination.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic resin pellets on an urban tropical beach in Colombia

Researchers reported the first detection of microplastic resin pellets on a Caribbean beach in Cartagena, Colombia, finding pellets across all sampling periods during both dry and rainy seasons with surface analysis revealing chemical weathering signatures. The findings establish a baseline for microplastic pollution monitoring in a region with limited prior data.

2015 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 115 citations
Article Tier 2

Los microplásticos, una amenaza desconocida para los ecosistemas marinos de Colombia: perspectivas y desafíos a enfrentar

This review examines microplastic contamination in Colombian marine ecosystems, highlighting the serious but poorly understood threat these particles pose to marine biota, ecosystem balance, and human health. The authors identify key research gaps and challenges specific to Colombia's coastal and oceanic environments.

2021 Gestión y Ambiente 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Incremento de la contaminación por microplásticos en aguas superficiales de la bahía de Buenaventura, Pacífico colombiano

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in surface waters of Buenaventura Bay on Colombia's Pacific coast and found levels had increased compared to earlier surveys. Fibers were the most common type, likely from textile washing and fishing activities in the region. This is one of few studies documenting microplastic pollution on Colombia's Pacific coast.

2021 Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and increase of microplastics over time in sediments of Buenaventura Bay, Colombian Pacific

This study tracked changes in microplastic contamination in sediments of Buenaventura Bay in Colombia over time, finding that levels have increased and that the types and distribution vary spatially. The findings document a growing plastic pollution problem in a major Pacific port city.

2021 Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in water and fish of commercial interest: Distribution and relation to ecology in the colombians caribbean region, south america

Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination in surface waters and the gastrointestinal tracts of commercially important and invasive fish species along the Colombian Caribbean coast and San Andrés Island, examining the relationship between microplastic distribution and species ecology and geography.

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

Marine litter and microplastic pollution on mangrove soils of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

Researchers assessed marine litter and microplastic contamination in mangrove soils of Colombia's largest coastal lagoon system for the first time. They found significantly higher litter concentrations near populated areas, with plastics comprising up to 96% of all debris, and microplastic levels varying widely across sampling sites. The study highlights the link between inadequate waste management in coastal communities and microplastic accumulation in ecologically important mangrove habitats.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 220 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of tourism on marine litter pollution on Santa Marta beaches, Colombian Caribbean

Tourism significantly increased litter pollution on beaches in Santa Marta, Colombia, with plastics making up 30-77% of macroplastic waste and microplastics ranging from 1 to 355 items per square meter during peak tourist season. Local residents identified tourism as the primary source, highlighting the need for better waste management and public education at coastal destinations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Participatory Social Mapping with Ethnic Communities to Identify Factors Associated With Microplastics in a Protected Area on the Northern Coast Of Colombia

Researchers used participatory social mapping with Indigenous and ethnic communities in a protected coastal area of Colombia to identify local hotspots of microplastic contamination, including wastewater discharge points and waste dumping sites, demonstrating that community knowledge is a valuable tool for environmental monitoring.

2025 Proceedings of the International Conference on Environmental Science and Applications, ICESA ...
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in water and fish of commercial interest: Distribution and relation to ecology in the colombians caribbean region, south america

Researchers evaluated microplastic contamination in surface waters and the gastrointestinal tracts of two commercially important fish species and one invasive species along the Caribbean coast of Colombia's Atlantico department and San Andres Island, relating distribution patterns to the ecology and geographic range of each species.

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

A breakthrough in the harmonization of microplastics monitoring protocols in latin american region

This paper describes progress toward harmonizing microplastic monitoring protocols across Latin American countries, aiming to create consistent, comparable data from a region with significant plastic pollution challenges but historically fragmented scientific approaches. Standardized monitoring is a prerequisite for effective regional policy and for understanding how plastic pollution flows through South and Central American river systems.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

A breakthrough in the harmonization of microplastics monitoring protocols in latin american region

This paper describes progress toward harmonizing microplastic monitoring protocols across Latin American countries, aiming to create consistent, comparable data from a region with significant plastic pollution challenges but historically fragmented scientific approaches. Standardized monitoring is a prerequisite for effective regional policy and for understanding how plastic pollution flows through South and Central American river systems.

2026 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)