Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Meso- and microplastic composition, distribution patterns and drivers: A snapshot of plastic pollution on Brazilian beaches

A standardized survey of plastic pollution across 22 sandy beaches spanning over 4600 km of Brazilian coast found widespread contamination in coastal sediments, with polymer type, size, and distribution patterns reflecting diverse sources including fishing activity and urban runoff.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Litter assessment on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast: a large-scale analysis of macrolitter and microplastics

Researchers conducted a large-scale assessment of macrolitter and microplastic contamination on sandy beaches along the Brazilian coast, characterizing pollution patterns, dominant polymer types, and potential anthropogenic sources across multiple sites.

2025 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in brazilian marine environments: a study on beaches in São Francisco do Sul - SC

Beach surveys along São Francisco do Sul in southern Brazil confirmed widespread microplastic presence in coastal sediments, with polymer composition reflecting regional plastic waste streams. The study adds to the body of evidence that Brazilian coastlines are significantly contaminated and calls for national monitoring standards to track and manage the problem.

2023 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence, distribution, and zonation at Paraná’s beaches—South of Brazil

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic distribution and zonation on beaches in Paraná state, southern Brazil, characterizing MP concentrations, polymer types, and morphologies across multiple beach zones to establish a baseline for this understudied South American coastline.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of the occurrence of microplastics in beach sand on the Brazilian coast

Researchers evaluated microplastic occurrence in beach sand along the Brazilian coastline using a simplified methodology. The study found widespread microplastic contamination and identified potential pollution sources linked to coastal urbanization and ocean currents.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Caracterização de microplásticos em amostras marinhas e estuarinas

This study characterized microplastics collected from marine and estuarine samples in Brazil, classifying them by size, shape, and polymer type. The findings document the widespread presence of microplastic contamination in these coastal ecosystems and provide baseline data for future monitoring.

2021
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Sediments from a Sandy Beach in Costa Nova (Aveiro, Portugal)

Researchers collected and characterized microplastics from sediments at a sandy beach in Costa Nova, Portugal, finding a variety of polymer types and particle shapes. The study documents microplastic accumulation in a European Atlantic coastal environment and provides baseline contamination data.

2023 Sustainability 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in marine and estuarine samples

This study characterized microplastics from marine and estuarine environments in Brazil, finding primary microplastics (pellets and beads) alongside secondary particles formed from degradation of discarded plastic. The work highlights the diverse sources and types of microplastic pollution in South American coastal waters.

2021 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of microplastic and marine debris on the beaches of Niterói Oceanic Region, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Researchers evaluated microplastic and marine debris on ocean beaches of Niterói, Brazil, across winter and summer seasons, finding seasonal variation in abundance with fragments and films predominating and highlighting recreational beaches as significant accumulation zones.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 42 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on Santos Beach: Sources of Pollution, Waste Characteristics and Possible Collection Solutions

Researchers characterized microplastics collected from three zones of Santos beach in Brazil, finding contamination dominated by fragments and films near sewage outfalls. The study highlights inadequate waste management as the primary driver of beach microplastic accumulation and assessed feasibility of mechanical collection interventions.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Distribution and occurrence of microplastics in estuaries of São José Bay, Brazilian equatorial margin

Researchers examined the distribution and occurrence of microplastics in estuaries of São José Bay on the Brazilian equatorial margin, characterizing MP abundance, morphology, and polymer composition across multiple sampling sites.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Characterization of Microplastics in Coastal Beach Sand: Insights from a Case Study at Praia Vermelha, Brazil

Researchers developed and validated a standardised protocol for collecting, processing, and characterising microplastics in beach sands at Praia Vermelha in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using flotation extraction and systematic sampling to demonstrate the methodology's effectiveness for identifying microplastics from coastal plastic waste disposal.

2025 Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
Article Tier 2

Abundance, composition, and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediment and soft tissues of four species of Bivalvia from Southeast Brazilian urban beaches

Researchers found 100% microplastic contamination in intertidal sediments and four bivalve species from urbanized Brazilian beaches, identifying polypropylene, polyethylene, and PET polymers in organisms commonly consumed by humans.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in the sediments of Odisha beaches, southeastern coast of India

This first study of microplastic prevalence on beaches of the Odisha coast in southeastern India documented widespread contamination, with fiber and fragment types dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene across multiple beach sites.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Widespread microplastics distribution at an Amazon macrotidal sandy beach

Researchers found widespread microplastic contamination at a macrotidal sandy beach on the Amazon coast of Brazil, detecting an average of 492.5 particles per square meter with fibers dominating across three depth strata down to 60 cm.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, characteristics and short-term variability of microplastics in beach sediment of Fernando de Noronha Archipelago, Brazil

Researchers conducted daily beach sediment sampling on Fernando de Noronha Archipelago in Brazil, documenting large spatial and temporal variability in microplastic concentrations (0.6-1,059 particles/m) and finding that remote island beaches are not protected from microplastic contamination.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 41 citations
Article Tier 2

Contaminação Por Microplásticos Em Praias Arenosas No Brasil: Uma Revisão Sistemática

This review systematically examines microplastic contamination studies on sandy beaches across Brazil, covering publications from the first Brazilian study in 2009 onward and identifying that sediment (76% of studies), water (12%), and biota (12%) are the primary compartments investigated. The review finds tourism, fishing, and river discharge as the main microplastic sources, and identifies significant methodological gaps that limit cross-study comparisons.

2023 Oecologia Australis 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal evaluation of macro, meso and microplastics in surface waters, bottom and beach sediments of two embayments in Niterói, RJ, Brazil

Researchers evaluated macro, meso, and microplastic distribution across surface waters and sediments in two Brazilian embayments, finding microplastics comprised 83% of collected waste with highest concentrations (138.41 items/kg) in beach sediments dominated by HDPE, polypropylene, and styrene. Beach sediments showed elevated microplastic concentrations during the rainy season and were identified as the most informative compartment for tracking plastic waste dynamics over time.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 66 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on Barra beach sediments in Aveiro, Portugal

Researchers collected sediment samples from Praia da Barra beach in Aveiro, Portugal and found significant quantities of microplastics, with fragment and fibre morphologies dominating, linking contamination to both tourism activity and maritime traffic in this Atlantic coastal zone.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 46 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fragment and fiber contamination of beach sediments from selected sites in Virginia and North Carolina, USA

This study examined microplastic contamination in estuarine and barrier island beach sediments in Virginia and North Carolina, USA, finding microplastics present at all 17 sites sampled. Fragment and fiber morphologies dominated, with polymer identification by pyrolysis-GC-MS and FTIR confirming a mix of common plastic types.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution across the Brazilian coastline: Evidence from the MICROMar project, the largest coastal survey in the Global South

As part of Brazil's MICROMar project, researchers analysed 4,134 samples from 1,024 beaches along approximately 7,500 km of Brazilian coastline to produce the largest standardised coastal microplastic survey in the Global South. Microplastics were found ubiquitously, with concentration patterns linked to population density, coastal morphology, and river inputs.

2025 Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Characteristics of Microplastics in Sediment at Danang Beaches - Vietnam

Researchers characterised microplastics in beach sediments at Danang, Vietnam, determining their abundance, morphology, colour, and polymer composition. The study found microplastic contamination at all sampled sites, identifying fibres and fragments as dominant forms and linking plastic sources to local tourism, fishing, and urban runoff.

2023 Engineering and Technology For Sustainable Development 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Textural characteristics and abundance of microplastics in Tecolutla beach sediments, Gulf of Mexico

Researchers analyzed the textural characteristics and abundance of microplastics in surface sediments from Tecolutla beach on the Gulf of Mexico coast, contributing baseline data on coastal microplastic pollution in an understudied region of Mexico.

2022 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Ubiquity of microplastics in coastal seafloor sediments

Researchers applied a novel method to quantify microplastic concentrations in seafloor sediments from 42 coastal sites across southeastern Australia. They found microplastics in all samples at an average concentration of 3.4 particles per milliliter of sediment, predominantly as filaments. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination of coastal seafloor sediments is ubiquitous and that hydrological and sediment properties influence deposition patterns.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 200 citations