Papers

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Article Tier 2

The Effects of Polyethylene Microplastic Accumulation on Rhizophora mucronata Seedling Survival in the Mangrove Ecosystem of South Jakarta

Scientists found that tiny plastic particles in soil dramatically reduce the survival of young mangrove trees, with survival rates dropping from 80% in clean soil to just 20% in heavily polluted soil. This matters because mangrove forests protect coastlines from storms and flooding while filtering water that eventually reaches humans. As plastic pollution increases in coastal areas, we could lose these natural barriers that help protect communities and clean our environment.

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

Microplastics in Singapore’s coastal mangrove ecosystems

Researchers sampled coastal mangrove ecosystems in Singapore and found microplastics throughout, demonstrating that mangrove habitats accumulate plastic pollution and raising concerns for the organisms that depend on these ecologically important coastal forests.

2013 Marine Pollution Bulletin 977 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of mangrove (Kandelia obovata) growth, photosynthesis, and rhizosphere soil properties to microplastic pollution

Researchers found that polyethylene, polypropylene, and PVC microplastics significantly impaired mangrove (Kandelia obovata) root growth, photosynthesis, and soil microbial properties after 12 months of exposure, threatening mangrove ecosystem health.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Uptake, growth, and oxidative stress responses of Rhizophora mucronata (Poir. in Lam.) propagules exposed to high-density polyethylene microplastics

Researchers exposed mangrove propagules to environmentally relevant concentrations of high-density polyethylene microplastics for three months and found that the particles accumulated on root surfaces and translocated into the shoot system. The microplastics caused significant reductions in root length, plant height, and foliar area, along with increased oxidative stress indicators. The study suggests that microplastic pollution poses a real threat to mangrove growth and could ultimately affect the diversity and productivity of mangrove forests.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment and influence of microplastics on mangrove forest soil: Sandwip Island, Chittagong, Bangladesh

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in mangrove forest soils on Sandwip Island, Bangladesh, characterizing the abundance, types, and potential ecological risks of the particles. They found notable levels of microplastic pollution in the mangrove sediments, with fibers and fragments being the most common forms. The study highlights an understudied threat to mangrove ecosystems and calls for greater attention to microplastic impacts on these critical coastal habitats.

2026 Environmental Science and Pollution Research
Article Tier 2

Multidimensional Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Mangrove Wetlands: Driving Mechanisms, Carbon Contribution, and Ecological Risk

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics throughout mangrove wetlands in China, with the highest levels in areas used for fishing and fish farming. These plastic particles are building up in the sediment and water, creating pollution hotspots that pose moderate ecological risks to these important coastal ecosystems. This matters because mangroves help protect coastlines and support marine life that humans depend on for food, so plastic pollution in these areas could ultimately affect our food supply and coastal protection.

2026 Environmental Science & Technology
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

Assessment of secondary microplastics trapped in mangrove ecosystem of a highly populated tropical megacity, India

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in Mumbai's mangrove ecosystem across six zones and 30 sampling sites. They found an average of 6,730 microplastic particles per kilogram of dry sediment, dominated by fibers and polyethylene, with concentrations decreasing at greater sediment depths, highlighting the need for management policies to protect coastal environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Microplastics on Mangroves - A Review

Mangrove forests act as natural traps for microplastics due to their dense root systems that slow water flow, leading to higher microplastic accumulation in mangroves than other coastal zones. This matters because the build-up harms mangrove plants at the cellular and physiological level, threatening these ecologically critical habitats that protect coastlines and support fisheries.

2023 International Journal of Research and Review 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-contaminant, but immense impact: Source and influence of diethyl phthalate plasticizer on bottom-dwelling fishes

Researchers tracked microplastic accumulation in mangrove sediments along a tropical coastline, finding concentrations up to 1,200 particles per kilogram of dry sediment. Mangroves appear to act as sinks for floating plastic debris, with fibers dominating the assemblage.

2022 Chemosphere 15 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

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
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

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

Increased risk of heavy metal accumulation in mangrove seedlings in coastal wetland environments due to microplastic inflow

When mangrove seedlings were grown in coastal sediments contaminated with polystyrene and polymethyl methacrylate microplastics, they accumulated significantly more heavy metals -- up to 548% more -- particularly in their roots. The microplastics triggered oxidative stress in the plants and altered how heavy metals moved through the soil. This is concerning because mangrove ecosystems are nurseries for many seafood species, and increased heavy metal uptake could enter coastal food webs.

2024 Environmental Pollution 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing Microplastic Contamination in Mangrove Sediments from Setiu Wetlands, Malaysia

Researchers found 2,292 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment in the mangrove wetlands of Setiu, Malaysia, with over 80% being tiny fibers likely from fishing gear and packaging. Areas near aquaculture operations had the highest contamination levels, and the microplastic surfaces showed signs of environmental degradation that could make them more toxic. Mangrove ecosystems act as natural traps for microplastics, concentrating pollution in habitats that are vital for fisheries and coastal protection.

2025 Indonesian Journal of Chemistry 6 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

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

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

Urban mangrove ecosystems are under severe threat from microplastic pollution: a case study from Mangalavanam, Kerala, India

Researchers investigated how exposure to polystyrene microplastics affects the reproductive success of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber, finding reduced offspring viability and altered feeding behavior at concentrations of 1% microplastics by dry weight in food. The results suggest meaningful ecotoxicological risks in soil ecosystems.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 65 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

ACCUMULATION OF MICROPLASTICS (<300 µM) IN MANGROVE SEDIMENTS OF BANDA ACEH CITY, INDONESIA

Researchers measured microplastic accumulation in mangrove sediments in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, finding up to 3,840 particles per kilogram of sediment — with plastic pellets and fibers smaller than 300 micrometers being the most common types — suggesting these coastal ecosystems are acting as significant traps for plastic pollution from nearby land and waterways.

2025 Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the soil of mangrove restoration wetland and the effects of microplastics on soil characteristics

Researchers measured microplastic distribution in soils of a mangrove restoration wetland with different planting densities, finding an average abundance of 217 MPs per kilogram of dry soil with higher concentrations in denser planting zones. MPs in the soil also altered wetland soil physicochemical properties including bulk density and organic matter content.

2022 Ecotoxicology 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of microplastics in tropical estuarine mangrove areas around Penang, Malaysia

This study documented microplastic pollution in tropical mangrove estuaries around Penang, Malaysia, finding thousands of plastic particles in both water and sediment samples. Concentrations were particularly high near the more urbanized Seberang Perai area, where sediment contained up to 4,000 particles per kilogram. The research highlights that tropical mangroves, which serve as important nursery habitats for marine life, are accumulating significant amounts of microplastic pollution.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 25 citations