Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Impact of elevated environmental pollutants on carbon storage in mangrove wetlands: A comprehensive review

Researchers synthesized global studies on pollutant impacts in mangrove wetlands — which store about 10% of coastal ocean carbon — finding that microplastics reduce carbon stocks by 1-12% by impairing photosynthesis and destabilizing sediments, while heavy metals and oil spills compound the damage to these critical climate carbon sinks.

2025 Ecological Indicators 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Depth-dependent response of soil microbial community and greenhouse gas efflux to polylactic acid microplastics and tidal cycles in a mangrove ecosystem

Researchers found that biodegradable plastic (PLA) microplastics in mangrove soil increased the release of greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide and methane, from deeper soil layers. The microplastics altered soil bacterial communities in ways that boosted methane-producing organisms. This finding is important because biodegradable plastics are often marketed as environmentally friendly, but they may still harm ecosystems by accelerating carbon release from soils.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics as a novel carbon reservoir in surface water within a large estuary of Sundarbans mangrove

Researchers found microplastics throughout surface waters of the Sundarbans mangrove estuary in India, with concentrations spiking up to 12-fold during monsoon season due to runoff. Because microplastics carry organic carbon and host microbial biofilms, their presence in this UNESCO World Heritage Site may be altering the mangrove ecosystem's carbon balance and potentially affecting the regional carbon budget.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Effects of microplastics on carbon release and microbial community in mangrove soil systems

Researchers tested how microplastics affect carbon release and microbial life in mangrove soils at different depths. They found that while topsoil was largely unaffected, deeper soil layers released significantly more carbon dioxide when microplastics were present, particularly biodegradable types like polylactic acid. The study suggests that microplastic contamination in mangrove ecosystems could accelerate carbon loss from deeper soils by disrupting microbial communities and worsening nitrogen limitations.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of microplastics on CO2 emission from Yellow River Delta wetland

Researchers found that microplastic contamination in Yellow River Delta wetland soils altered CO2 emissions, with different polymer types and concentrations producing varying effects on soil carbon dynamics — raising concern that plastic pollution could undermine the carbon sequestration function of coastal wetlands.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution threatens mangrove carbon sequestration capacity

Researchers found that microplastic pollution in mangrove soils is linked to increased methane production potential by favoring methane-producing archaea over methane-consuming bacteria. A nationwide survey of Chinese mangroves revealed higher microplastic concentrations in surface soils, with stronger associations with methane-cycling microorganisms at shallow depths. The findings suggest that plastic pollution could undermine the carbon sequestration capacity of these critical coastal ecosystems, potentially turning them from carbon sinks into greenhouse gas sources.

2025 Environmental Science and Ecotechnology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination levels in Ghana's mangrove wetlands, examining how the morphology of mangrove root systems traps and accumulates plastic particles of all sizes and assessing the threat posed to these ecologically critical coastal ecosystems.

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

Microplastic characterization and factors influencing its abundance in coastal wetlands: insights from the world’s largest mangrove ecosystem, Sundarbans

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove ecosystem, examining both water and sediment samples from 20 sites. They found microplastics at every location, with polystyrene being the most abundant polymer and fragments the most common shape. The study identified proximity to port activity and organic carbon levels as key factors influencing microplastic distribution, underscoring the vulnerability of this critical ecosystem.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics and heavy metals reshape mangrove rhizosphere microbiomes and compromise carbon fixation potential

Researchers investigated how microplastics and heavy metals together affect the microbial communities around mangrove tree roots. They found that combined pollution significantly reduced microbial diversity and shifted the balance of bacterial species, which in turn compromised the ability of these ecosystems to capture and store carbon. The study highlights that microplastic-metal co-contamination poses a compounding threat to mangrove ecosystems, which play an important role in coastal carbon storage.

2025 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 2 citations
Article Tier 2

World's Largest Mangrove Forest Becoming Plastic Cesspit

Researchers reported on accelerating plastic pollution in the Sundarbans, the world's largest mangrove forest, documenting how the ecosystem is becoming a sink for plastic debris from surrounding human settlements and river systems.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Colonization characteristics and dynamic transition of archaea communities on polyethylene and polypropylene microplastics in the sediments of mangrove ecosystems

Researchers found that microplastics in mangrove sediments host distinct communities of archaea (ancient microorganisms) that differ from those in surrounding sediments, with some species linked to increased methane production. The microbial communities on microplastic surfaces shifted over time and showed increased potential for methane emissions and changes in nitrogen cycling. This suggests that microplastic pollution in coastal wetlands could amplify greenhouse gas production and disrupt nutrient cycles that support these critical ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Is the Sundarbans of Bangladesh in a State of Pollution?

This comprehensive review of pollution sources in the Sundarbans mangrove ecosystem (Bangladesh) covers industrial waste, heavy metals, agrochemicals, oil spills, and plastic debris, finding that air and water quality are currently within acceptable ranges but warning that rapid land-use change nearby poses growing risks. While plastics from urban areas are mentioned, the study is a broad ecosystem health review rather than a focused microplastic study.

2023 Open Journal of Forestry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination levels in mangrove wetlands in Ghana, examining how mangrove tree morphology facilitates plastic accumulation and what concentrations and polymer types are present in these coastal ecosystems. The study addressed threats to mangrove ecological services including water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, and coastline protection posed by plastic pollution.

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

Water level regimes can regulate the influences of microplastic pollution on carbon loss in paddy soils: Insights from dissolved organic matter and carbon mineralization

Researchers examined how water level fluctuations in wetlands regulate the influence of microplastic pollution on carbon cycling, finding that alternating wet and dry conditions altered decomposition rates and greenhouse gas emissions in MP-contaminated wetland soils.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of polypropylene microplastics on carbon dioxide dynamics in intertidal mangrove sediments

This study investigated how polypropylene microplastics affect carbon dioxide dynamics in mangrove sediments. Researchers found that microplastic contamination altered organic carbon content and microbial communities, influencing CO2 release patterns differently depending on tidal elevation and microplastic concentration.

2024 Environmental Pollution 12 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on microplastic pollution in the mangrove wetlands and microbial strategies for its remediation

Researchers reviewed the growing problem of microplastic pollution in mangrove wetland ecosystems and its effects on the biological communities that depend on these habitats. They found that microplastic exposure can substantially alter the microbial communities critical to nutrient cycling in mangrove environments. The review also explores microbial bioremediation strategies as a sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution in these threatened coastal ecosystems.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of Plastics and Trace Elements in the Mangrove Forests of Bima City Bay, Indonesia

Researchers investigated microplastic and trace element pollution in mangrove soils and plant tissues across areas with varying levels of human activity in Bima Bay, Indonesia. They found that microplastic levels were highest near hotels and lowest in rural areas, with plant tissues selectively accumulating certain polymer types like polyamides. The results highlight that mangrove forests act as sinks for plastic pollution, with contamination levels closely tied to local human activity.

2023 Plants 24 citations
Article Tier 2

[Effects of Microplastics on Soil N2O Emission and Nitrogen Transformations from Tropical Agricultural Soils].

Researchers conducted a controlled laboratory incubation experiment to examine the effects of polyethylene and polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate microplastics on N2O emissions and nitrogen transformations in tropical agricultural soils from a pepper-corn cropping system in Hainan Province, China.

2024 PubMed
Article Tier 2

Mangrove forests as traps for marine litter

Researchers surveyed 20 mangrove forests along the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf and confirmed that mangroves act as traps for marine plastic litter, with denser forests and proximity to shipping routes linked to higher debris accumulation. The study shows that ocean-based activities, not just land-based sources, are a major driver of plastic buildup in coastal mangrove ecosystems.

2019 Environmental Pollution 360 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic burial potential and ecological risks in mangrove forests of the Amazon River delta

Researchers studied how mangrove forests in the Amazon River delta trap and bury microplastics in their soil, analyzing sediment cores going back over a century. Microplastics were found in nearly all samples, including some deposited before the modern plastic era, suggesting redistribution through sediment movement. The study is the first to quantify the microplastic burial capacity of mangroves, showing these ecosystems act as long-term sinks for plastic pollution.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of mangrove forest in interception of microplastics (MPs): Challenges, progress, and prospects

This review examines how mangrove forests intercept and accumulate microplastics from terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric sources, identifying knowledge gaps in understanding the mechanisms, ecological impacts, and long-term fate of trapped microplastics in mangrove ecosystems.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Disentangling microplastics effects on soil structure, microbial activity and greenhouse gas emissions

Researchers studied how microplastics affect soil structure, microbial activity, and greenhouse gas emissions, finding complex interactions that depend on microplastic type and concentration. The presence of microplastics in soils can alter the biological processes that regulate carbon storage and nutrient cycling.

2022 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The combined effects of microplastics and their additives on mangrove system: From the sinks to the sources of carbon

This review examined how microplastics and plastic additives (including flame retardants and phthalate plasticizers) affect carbon sequestration in mangrove blue carbon ecosystems, finding that MPs can shift mangroves from carbon sinks to potential carbon sources by disrupting soil organic carbon storage and microbial decomposition.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Widespread microplastic pollution in mangrove soils of Todos os Santos Bay, northern Brazil

Researchers found widespread microplastic pollution in mangrove soils around Todos os Santos Bay in Brazil, detecting contamination at multiple depths and distances from the tidal area, highlighting mangroves as previously overlooked sinks for microplastic accumulation.

2022 Environmental Research 91 citations