Papers

61,005 results
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Meta Analysis Tier 1

Identifying patterns of microplastic accumulation in coastal vegetated habitats: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of microplastic accumulation in coastal vegetated habitats found that mangroves have the highest microplastic concentrations compared to saltmarshes and seagrass beds, especially near urban centers and fishing zones. Nearly 40% of comparisons showed higher microplastic accumulation in vegetated versus unvegetated sites, with degraded habitats accumulating more plastics.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic marine debris and its dynamics across peri-urban and urban mangroves on Penang Island, Malaysia

Researchers tracked the accumulation of marine debris in urban and semi-urban mangroves on Penang Island, Malaysia, finding that debris abundance varied with season, tidal patterns, and proximity to urban areas. Mangroves act as debris traps, concentrating plastic waste including microplastics that filter through their root systems.

2019 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forests: A comparative analysis of abundance, morphotype, polymer composition and toxicity.

Researchers quantified microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forests using a comparative approach across multiple sites, filling a baseline knowledge gap for African coastal ecosystems where prior data is scarce. Microplastics were detected across mangrove sediments at levels that varied with proximity to urban and anthropogenic pressure.

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

Current status and trends of research on microplastic fugacity characteristics and pollution levels in mangrove wetlands

This systematic literature review analyzed the distribution, characteristics, and pollution levels of microplastics in mangrove wetlands globally, finding that mangroves act as significant traps for land-based plastics before they reach the open ocean. Fiber morphologies and polymer types reflected terrestrial sources, and microplastic density was highest near urban river inputs.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic debris pollution in peri-urban mangroves of South China: Spatial, seasonal, and environmental drivers in Hong Kong

A seasonal survey of peri-urban mangroves across Hong Kong found that plastic was the dominant type of anthropogenic debris, accumulating more heavily in landward zones and during the dry season. The study identified mismanaged land-based waste — rather than river inputs from the Pearl River — as the primary source, underscoring the role of urban waste management failures in threatening mangrove ecosystems. Mangroves are ecologically important nursery habitats, and chronic plastic debris smothers roots and disrupts biodiversity.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Mangroves as unique but understudied traps for anthropogenic marine debris: A review of present information and the way forward

This review examined mangroves as understudied traps for anthropogenic marine debris, noting that 18 of the top 20 plastic-emitting rivers are associated with mangrove coastlines. Mangroves efficiently accumulate debris through their dense root structures, yet are rarely included in coastal plastic monitoring programs.

2020 Environmental Pollution 140 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in the coastal mangrove sediments of China

A survey of mangrove sediments along China's coast found microplastics were ubiquitous, with concentrations and polymer types varying by proximity to human activity and hydrological conditions. The study shows that mangrove forests, which provide critical coastal ecosystem services, are accumulating significant quantities of plastic pollution.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forests: A comparative analysis of abundance, morphotype, polymer composition and toxicity.

Researchers quantified microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forest sediments across multiple sites, providing rare baseline data for African coastal ecosystems that are underrepresented in global microplastic research. Microplastics were detected at all sampled mangrove sites, with contamination levels varying in relation to proximity to urban development and river inputs.

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

Microplastic abundance in urban vs. peri-urban mangroves: The feasibility of using invertebrates as biomonitors of microplastic pollution in two mangrove dominated estuaries of southern Africa

This study compared microplastic pollution across urban and peri-urban mangrove forests in South Africa using FT-IR analysis, finding higher MP abundance in the urban Durban Bay mangroves and evaluating invertebrate species as potential bioindicators of MP contamination.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in mangrove ecosystems: A critical review of current knowledge and future directions

This review synthesizes available research on microplastic pollution in mangrove ecosystems, which act as buffers between land and sea and accumulate plastics from both marine and terrestrial sources. The authors identify key gaps in knowledge and call for more research on how microplastics affect these ecologically critical habitats.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 228 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of elevated microplastic accumulation in Pacific Island mangrove sediments

Researchers found that mangrove sediments in Fiji contained nearly ten times more microplastics than surrounding non-mangrove areas, with consistent results across both urban and rural sites. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and the contamination levels were comparable to heavily polluted regions elsewhere in the world. The study highlights that mangroves, while vital coastal ecosystems, may be acting as significant traps for microplastic pollution in Pacific Island nations.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on the Role of Mangroves in Entrapping Microplastics in Tuticorin Coast of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India

Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in mangrove sediments versus open-beach control sites along the coast of southern India and found consistently higher levels within mangrove areas. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers in the 1–3 mm range were most common, and weathering analysis confirmed significant environmental degradation of the particles. The findings suggest that mangrove root systems act as natural traps for microplastics, which has implications for both ecosystem health and the many coastal communities that rely on mangroves for fisheries and shore protection.

2023 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution, characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics in the mangroves of Southern China

Microplastics were found to be widespread in mangrove sediments across Southern China, with higher concentrations in areas closer to urban development and aquaculture. The study highlights mangroves as accumulation zones for microplastic pollution, which could threaten these ecologically important coastal ecosystems.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 339 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinct microplastics abundance variation in root-associated sediments revealed the underestimation of mangrove microplastics pollution

This study characterized how microplastic abundance varies across root hair, rhizosphere, and non-rhizosphere zones in mangrove sediments, finding that root structures significantly influence microplastic trapping and migration patterns within mangrove ecosystems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Linking human activity to spatial accumulation of microplastics along mangrove coasts

Researchers sampled 50 locations along the largest mangrove coast in China to quantify how human activities drive microplastic accumulation in mangrove sediments. They found that densely populated areas and tourism hotspots contributed large white foam particles, while fishing areas produced smaller fragment-type microplastics. The study provides quantitative evidence linking specific human activities to distinct patterns of microplastic contamination in mangrove ecosystems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 55 citations
Article Tier 2

The dual role of coastal mangroves: Sinks and sources of microplastics in rapidly urbanizing areas

Researchers studied microplastic dynamics in mangrove ecosystems along two rivers and a coastal mangrove park in China's Pearl River Estuary. They found that mangroves play a dual role, acting as both sinks that trap microplastics and sources that release them back into the environment. The study highlights that rapid urbanization significantly increases microplastic loads in these sensitive coastal ecosystems.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution in urban vs pristine mangroves: Using marine sponges as bioindicators of environmental pollution

Researchers collected marine sponges from urban and pristine mangrove environments and measured microplastic content, finding significantly higher MP loads in urban sponges and demonstrating that sessile benthic sponges can serve as effective bioindicators of coastal microplastic pollution.

2021 Environmental Pollution 106 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

Impact of mangrove forest structure and landscape on macroplastics capture

Researchers surveyed macroplastic accumulation across seven mangrove forests in the Philippines, finding 1.1 items per square meter on average with the highest abundance at landward zones and near river mouths. Mangrove biomass and root structure were positively correlated with plastic capture, confirming that mangrove structural complexity enhances their ability to trap land-derived plastic litter.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological interception effect of mangroves on microplastics

Researchers found that mangroves act as an ecological barrier intercepting microplastics, with MP abundance decreasing from river inputs toward the ocean, demonstrating the role of mangrove ecosystems in filtering plastic pollution before it reaches open waters.

2021 Journal of Hazardous Materials 121 citations
Article Tier 2

How mangrove plants affect microplastic distribution in sediments of coastal wetlands: Case study in Shenzhen Bay, South China

The effect of different mangrove plant species on microplastic distribution in coastal wetland sediments was investigated, finding that plant species significantly influenced where microplastics accumulated. The study suggests that mangrove root and canopy structures create preferential zones for microplastic retention in coastal sediments.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 159 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics in the superficial sediment of a mangrove in Southeast Brazil: A comparison between fringe and basin

Microplastic distribution was compared between fringe and basin mangrove zones in southeastern Brazil, finding that basin forests trapped significantly more microplastics than fringe areas due to lower hydrodynamic energy and greater sediment retention.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Are mangrove ecosystems plastic accumulation zones?

Researchers monitored macroplastic and microplastic pollution across nine mangrove sites on Cebu Island, Philippines, for over a year using paired removal and reference plots, finding that mangrove ecosystems function as significant plastic accumulation zones with differing dynamics between landward and seaward zones.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Geospatial distribution and anthropogenic litter impact on coastal mangrove ecosystems from the Saudi Arabia coast of the Gulf

Researchers surveyed plastic litter in Saudi Arabian mangrove ecosystems along the Gulf coast, finding that plastic made up 80% of debris on the mangrove floor, with single-use plastics dominating. Pollution was heaviest near urban areas, highlighting how coastal mangroves act as unintended traps for plastic waste from land-based human activities.

2025 Scientific Reports 4 citations