Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Small microplastics and other components ofmicrolitter in Arctic invertebrates (Amphipods)

Researchers investigated small microplastics (under 100 micrometers) and other microlitter components — including plastic additives and non-plastic fibers — in Arctic amphipod crustaceans to evaluate their potential as bioindicators of plastic pollution in polar environments. The study quantified and identified small microplastics and microlitter in Arctic amphipod species, noting that their small size facilitates atmospheric and oceanic transport far from pollution sources and easy ingestion by organisms entering the trophic web.

2024 Open MIND
Article Tier 2

Small microplastics and other components of microlitter in Arctic invertebrates (Amphipods)

Researchers investigated small microplastics (less than 100 µm) and other microlitter components in Arctic amphipod invertebrates, addressing a gap in knowledge since most Arctic microplastics research has focused on particles larger than 100 µm. The study characterised the presence and composition of these smaller particles within this ecologically important invertebrate group.

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

Small microplastics and other components of microlitter in Arctic invertebrates (Amphipods)

Researchers examined small microplastics (under 100 µm) and other microlitter components in Arctic amphipods, addressing the relatively understudied size fraction of microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from polar regions. The study characterized particle types, sizes, and abundances found within these organisms to better understand contamination pathways in Arctic food webs.

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

Microlitter in arctic marine benthic food chains and potential effects on sediment dwelling fauna

Researchers measured microlitter concentrations in arctic marine sediments and biota at Svalbard and Greenland, finding higher concentrations and greater diversity of plastic types near human settlements and sites of abandoned fishing gear. Laboratory experiments on an arctic amphipod showed physiological effects — including altered feeding rates and respiration — only at concentrations much higher than those currently found in the field.

2020 TemaNord 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characterization of microplastics in amphipods from the Japanese coastal environment

Researchers found high levels of microplastic ingestion in coastal amphipods from Japan, with up to 76 particles per individual and 83% of particles smaller than 90 µm, predominantly polyethylene, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through coastal food webs.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

First Assessment of Plasticizers in Marine Coastal Litter-Feeder Fauna in the Mediterranean Sea

Five small-sized Mediterranean amphipod crustacean species from coastal litter-feeder habitats were analyzed for plasticizer contamination, finding detectable levels and identifying these litter-feeding invertebrates as potential monitors of microplastic-associated chemical pollution.

2021 Toxics 32 citations
Article Tier 2

First evidence of microplastics ingestion in benthic amphipods from Svalbard

Researchers provided the first evidence of microplastic ingestion by benthic amphipods (Gammarus setosus) from Svalbard in natural conditions, identifying plastic particles via Nile Red staining and micro FT-IR spectroscopy and noting potential for trophic transfer in Arctic food webs.

2019 Environmental Research 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of microplastics on amphipods

Researchers exposed two amphipod species to environmentally relevant polyethylene microplastic concentrations and found increased mortality and oxidative stress, with species-specific sensitivity suggesting ecological impacts even at low exposure levels.

2022 Chemosphere 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion in zooplankton from the Fram Strait in the Arctic

Researchers found that all five zooplankton species examined in the Arctic Fram Strait had ingested microplastics, with polyester and polyamide fibers being the most common types, confirming widespread microplastic contamination at the base of the Arctic food web.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 127 citations
Article Tier 2

Small Microplastics: A yet Unknown Threat in the Svalbard (Norway) Region

Researchers investigated the presence of small microplastics and nanoplastics in the Arctic Svalbard region, where climate change is accelerating ice melt and increasing shipping activity. Initial analyses of amphipods collected near Ny-Alesund confirmed the presence of small microplastics in Arctic marine organisms. The study outlines ongoing research efforts to understand how these tiny plastic particles move through polar food webs and affect both local ecosystems and human health.

2023 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Mussels (Mytilus spp.) in Svalbard contain microplastic particles in tissues: Implications for monitoring

Researchers found microplastic particles in the tissues of blue mussels collected from intertidal zones in Arctic Svalbard, detecting 148 particles per sample on average and identifying polyethylene and polystyrene as dominant polymers, with implications for Arctic food web monitoring.

2024 Chemosphere 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Fish species, habitat, and capture location outweigh fish mass as drivers of microplastic pollution in Canadian Arctic fishes

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in 435 stomachs and gastrointestinal tracts of seven freshwater fish species from the Canadian Arctic. The study found that fish species, habitat type, and capture location were more important drivers of microplastic levels than fish size, with demersal species and those near larger human populations containing significantly more microplastics.

2026 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the Arctic Ocean: Assessing ingestion and potential health effects in Calanus and Neocalanus copepods

This review assessed the extent of microplastic ingestion by Arctic marine organisms and evaluated the potential risks to both wildlife and human consumers of Arctic seafood. The authors found evidence of microplastic ingestion across multiple species and called for more research on long-term ecological impacts in polar environments.

2019 Summit (Simon Fraser University) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection, counting and characterization of nanoplastics in marine bioindicators: a proof of principle study

Researchers demonstrated a proof-of-concept workflow for detecting and counting nanoplastic particles (below 1 µm) in marine invertebrate tissues using electron microscopy and spectroscopic confirmation, finding nanoplastics in marine bioindicator species and establishing a methodology for future monitoring programs.

2021 Microplastics and Nanoplastics 46 citations
Article Tier 2

A New Method for Microplastics Identification in Copepods

Researchers developed and validated methods to identify small microplastics (under 10 micrometers) in the copepod Eurytemora affinis using epifluorescence microscopy and Raman microspectroscopy. The study used labeled polystyrene, polyethylene, and nylon particles to calibrate the detection methods. Improved identification of small microplastics in zooplankton is important for understanding plastic entry into marine food webs.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic

This study examined whether Arctic seabirds that ingest microplastics also accumulate chemical contaminants carried by the plastic particles. The findings suggest that microplastics can act as vectors for delivering toxic chemicals to seabirds, adding to the burden of pollutants already present in Arctic food webs.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Arctic polar waters: the first reported values of particles in surface and sub-surface samples

Researchers reported some of the first measured values for microplastic particles in Arctic polar waters, finding contamination even in these remote high-latitude waters and raising questions about long-range transport mechanisms.

2015 Scientific Reports 1119 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation of Plastic Debris and Associated Contaminants in Aquatic Food Webs

Researchers built a food web model simulating microplastic and chemical contaminant transfer through an Arctic marine food chain from zooplankton to polar bears. The model found that while microplastics themselves do not biomagnify substantially through trophic levels, they can alter the bioaccumulation patterns of hydrophobic organic chemicals depending on the chemical properties and organism physiology.

2018 Environmental Science & Technology 283 citations
Article Tier 2

Disentangling the influence of microplastics and their chemical additives on a model detritivore system

Researchers disentangled the physical and chemical effects of microplastics on freshwater detritivores, finding that chemical additives leaching from plastics contributed more to negative impacts on organisms than the polymer particles themselves.

2022 Environmental Pollution 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Uncovering the Hidden Dangers of Microplastic Pollution in Lake Ecosystems: Effects of Ingestion on Talitrid Amphipods

Researchers demonstrated that talitrid amphipods from Lake Albano readily ingested multiple polymer types delivered through food tablets, and within 24 hours the microplastics disrupted energy metabolism by altering glucose, glycogen, and lipid levels in the organisms.

2023 Environments 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the occurrence and fate of microplastics in coastal Arctic ecosystems: The case of surface waters, sediments and walrus (Odobenus rosmarus)

This holistic study examined microplastics in Arctic surface waters, sediments, and walrus tissues in coastal Svalbard, detecting plastics across all compartments and documenting for the first time microplastic occurrence in walrus gastrointestinal tracts.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-contaminants of microplastics in two seabird species from the Canadian Arctic

Researchers investigated organic and inorganic co-contaminants associated with ingested microplastics in northern fulmars and black-legged kittiwakes from the Canadian Arctic, finding that fulmars had higher levels of microplastic contamination and plastic-additive organic compounds than kittiwakes, and examining the extent to which ingested microplastics act as transport vectors for persistent organic pollutants and trace metals.

2023 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion and plastic additive detection in pelagic squid and fish: Implications for bioindicators and plastic tracers in open oceanic food webs

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion in fish and squid from the open Northeast Atlantic and detected phthalate plasticizers in their tissues. Both fish species and all three squid species had ingested microplastics, with fibers being the most common type. The presence of plastic additives in these open-ocean species suggests that microplastic contamination and associated chemical exposure extend well beyond coastal areas into the deep ocean food web.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Transport, Fate, and Effects of Microplastics in a Rapidly Changing Arctic

This doctoral dissertation investigates how microplastics move through Arctic ecosystems — via seabirds, atmospheric deposition, and local community sources — and what happens when they arrive. Arctic char fish contained elevated microplastic concentrations, and laboratory experiments showed that polyurethane particles combined with chemical additives impaired larval fish growth and development, demonstrating that microplastics function as multi-dimensional contaminants whose physical form and chemical cargo together determine their ecological impact.

2023 TSpace