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

New Insights into the Microplastic Enrichment in the Blue Carbon Ecosystem: Evidence from Seagrass Meadows and Mangrove Forests in Coastal South China Sea

Researchers studied how seagrass meadows and mangrove forests in the South China Sea trap microplastics, finding enrichment of 1.3 to 17.6 times compared to unvegetated sites, with a strong positive correlation between microplastic abundance and organic carbon content (Pearson R = 0.86).

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Surface Waters and Sediments from Guangdong Coastal Areas, South China

Microplastics were detected in surface waters and sediments across coastal areas of Guangdong Province in South China, with higher concentrations near urban centers and river mouths reflecting the region's dense population and industrial activity.

2021 Sustainability 86 citations
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

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

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

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

Marine debris invasion and pollution assessment in mangrove wetlands in the northern South China Sea

Researchers assessed the abundance, accumulation, sources, and fate of marine debris in seven mangrove wetland areas in the northern South China Sea between 2019 and 2020. They found plastics dominated debris (48.34%) with over 70% of all debris weight being land-based and more than 70% originating from coastal and recreational activities.

2024
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

Organophosphate Triesters and Their Transformation Products in Sediments of Mangrove Wetlands in the Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

Researchers measured organophosphate ester pollutants and their breakdown products in sediments from three mangrove wetlands in China's Beibu Gulf for the first time. They found these contaminants were present at all sampling sites, with mangrove wetlands retaining higher concentrations than adjacent areas. The study indicates that mangrove sediments serve as sinks for these emerging pollutants, which are commonly associated with plastic products and flame retardants.

2024 Molecules 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on beaches and mangrove sediments along the coast of South China

Microplastic concentrations in beach and mangrove sediments along the South China coast were higher in summer than winter, with fibres and fragments dominating, and mangrove sediments retaining significantly more particles than adjacent beaches, confirming mangroves as important sinks for coastal microplastic pollution.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Coastal Wetland Restoration Strategies Based on Ecosystem Service Changes: A Case Study of the South Bank of Hangzhou Bay

Researchers analyzed coastal wetland restoration strategies based on ecosystem service changes along Hangzhou Bay's south bank, identifying priority restoration areas where interventions would maximize ecological benefits including pollution filtration and biodiversity support.

2023 Land 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Distinct impacts of microplastics on the carbon sequestration capacity of coastal blue carbon ecosystems: A case of seagrass beds

Researchers examined how microplastic pollution affects the ability of seagrass beds to capture and store carbon, a process important for combating climate change. Evidence indicates that microplastics can alter sediment properties, disrupt microbial communities, and inhibit seagrass growth, all of which reduce carbon storage capacity. The study highlights that microplastic contamination may be undermining one of nature's key tools for removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

2024 Marine Environmental Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Composition and concentration of suspended matter in the Zhongsha Great Atoll, South China Sea, before and during the summer monsoon

Researchers measured temperature, salinity, and suspended matter concentration in the Zhongsha Great Atoll of the South China Sea during spring-summer monsoon transition and summer monsoon outbreak periods, characterising the composition, spatial distribution, and carbon-cycle role of suspended particulate matter.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science
Article Tier 2

Polystyrene microplastics alter plankton community and enhance greenhouse gas emissions: A case study in the China coastal sea

Researchers demonstrated through ship-based and laboratory experiments that polystyrene microplastics suppress phytoplankton growth by up to 82 percent and increase dissolved organic carbon accumulation in coastal seawater. The microplastics restructured plankton communities and enhanced the production of brominated volatile halocarbons, which are ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases. The study suggests that microplastic pollution in coastal waters may have cascading effects on marine carbon cycling and atmospheric chemistry.

2025 Water Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Source or sink role of an urban lake for microplastics from Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao greater bay area, China

Researchers investigated whether an urban lake in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area acts as a source or sink for microplastics, finding that urbanization-driven inputs and hydrological dynamics determine the lake's shifting role in microplastic cycling.

2023 Environmental Research 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Marine Sediments in Eastern Guangdong in the South China Sea: Factors Influencing the Seasonal and Spatial Variations

This study investigated seasonal variation in microplastic abundance in marine sediments across multiple-use zones of Eastern Guangdong in the South China Sea, finding that seasonal and spatial patterns were influenced by hydrodynamic conditions, rainfall, and proximity to human activity.

2023 Water 26 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

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

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the mangrove sediment of the semi-enclosed Maowei Sea of the south China sea: New implications for location, rhizosphere, and sediment compositions

Microplastics were widespread in mangrove sediments of the semi-enclosed Maowei Sea in southern China, with concentrations influenced by location within the mangrove, proximity to roots, and sediment composition. The study provides new insight into how mangrove ecosystems trap and accumulate microplastics, raising concerns for the health of these ecologically important coastal habitats.

2018 Environmental Pollution 207 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and risk assessment of microplastics on the Shenzhen coast, South China

Researchers conducted a comprehensive assessment of microplastic contamination across the Shenzhen coastal ecosystem in South China, sampling seawater, sediment, marine organisms, and beaches. They found widespread microplastic presence with rivers and sewage outfalls identified as major land-based sources. The study provides risk assessments indicating that the coastal megacity's microplastic pollution levels warrant increased monitoring and mitigation efforts.

2024 Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 10 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of tropical blue carbon ecosystems for climate change mitigation

This review examines how tropical blue carbon ecosystems, including mangroves, seagrass beds, and seaweed farms, help capture and store carbon to combat climate change. Researchers highlight that these coastal habitats face increasing threats from pollution, including plastic contamination, which can undermine their ability to sequester carbon. The study calls for better preservation and restoration of these ecosystems, noting significant knowledge gaps about their long-term carbon storage potential.

2023 Journal of Environmental Science and Economics 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Dual mobilization of buried microplastics and organic carbon driven by seagrass degradation: a case study from Swan Lake, China

Sediment core analysis of a Chinese seagrass bed showed that degradation of Zostera japonica seagrass releases both buried microplastics and organic carbon back into the environment, converting a pollution sink into a source.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, characteristics, and human exposure to microplastics in mangroves within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across three mangroves in the Greater Bay Area of southern China, finding concentrations up to 1,600 particles per kilogram with higher levels at forest fringes, and assessed potential human exposure pathways.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 24 citations