Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics in Soils and Intertidal Sediments at Fildes Bay, Maritime Antarctica

Researchers found microplastic contamination in soils and intertidal sediments at Fildes Bay in Maritime Antarctica, with higher concentrations near research stations, demonstrating that even remote polar environments are affected by microplastic pollution.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic occurrence, sources, and impacts in Antarctic environment and biota

Researchers reviewed evidence of plastic pollution in Antarctica, finding microplastics — mostly fibers — in sea ice, ocean water, sediments, and both marine and land animals, raising concern that even the most remote ecosystems on Earth are contaminated and that biodiversity and ecosystem functions may be at risk.

2022 Water Biology and Security 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Antarctic Environments

This review examines microplastic pollution in Antarctic environments, summarizing evidence that even this remote continent has been contaminated by plastic particles, with implications for its unique fauna, influence on global climate systems, and value as a pristine scientific reference site.

2025
Article Tier 2

Short-term impacts of polyethylene and polyacrylonitrile microplastics on soil physicochemical properties and microbial activity of a marine terrace environment in maritime Antarctica

Researchers conducted short-term experiments adding polyethylene and polyacrylonitrile microplastics to Antarctic soil, finding measurable changes in physicochemical properties and microbial activity, raising concerns about microplastic impacts on fragile polar terrestrial ecosystems.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Determination of the presence of microplastics in intertidal sediments of deception island, antarctica

Researchers determined the presence and characteristics of microplastics in intertidal sediments of Deception Island, Antarctica, providing evidence that plastic contamination has reached one of Earth's most remote environments and documenting the role of marine sediments as sinks for persistent microplastic pollution.

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

Microplastics in the Antarctic marine system: An emerging area of research

This paper reviewed microplastics research in the Antarctic marine system, identifying it as an emerging research area and documenting the first evidence of microplastic contamination in this remote polar environment.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 777 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of microplastics in the soil environment

This review summarizes the current state of knowledge about microplastic contamination in soil environments, covering sources, distribution, and effects on soil organisms and ecosystems. The study highlights that while aquatic microplastic research is more advanced, soil contamination poses significant but understudied risks to terrestrial ecosystems and food production.

2021 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and its impact on the health of organisms

This review summarizes existing research on microplastic pollution in Antarctica, covering how these tiny plastic particles reach even the most remote environments through fishing, tourism, and ocean currents. Despite Antarctica being considered pristine, microplastics have been found in both water and sediment across the region. The findings highlight that no place on Earth is free from microplastic contamination, raising concerns about effects on wildlife and ecosystems that are connected to global food chains.

2023 Maritime Technology and Research 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental contamination and climate change in Antarctic ecosystems: an updated overview

This review provides an updated overview of environmental contamination and climate change impacts on Antarctic ecosystems. While brief, the topic is relevant to microplastic research because Antarctica, once considered pristine, has been found to contain microplastics, highlighting just how far-reaching global plastic pollution has become.

2024 Environmental Science Advances 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastics concentration of invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in marine invertebrates from three Antarctic fjords created by retreating glaciers. They found microplastics present in organisms even in these remote polar environments, with contamination levels varying between species and locations. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most isolated ecosystems on Earth.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of Microplastics (MPs) in Antarctica and Its Impact on the Health of Organisms

This review compiled recent findings on microplastic occurrence in Antarctica in both water and sediment, finding that tourism, fishing, and research activities have introduced MPs to this previously considered pristine environment with documented impacts on Antarctic organisms.

2023 Preprints.org 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in polar regions: An early warning to the world's pristine ecosystem

This review summarized evidence for microplastic contamination in Arctic and Antarctic environments — including water, sea ice, sediment, and biota — characterizing polar regions as sinks for globally transported plastic particles and calling for improved monitoring to track long-term trends.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 194 citations
Article Tier 2

Ubiquitous presence of microplastics with implication on soil health and plant development

This review examines the widespread presence of microplastics in soils worldwide, including in remote regions like the Arctic and Antarctic. Researchers found that agricultural soils contain more microplastics than urban soils due to the heavy use of plastic films and mulches in farming. The study highlights that microplastics alter soil properties, disrupt microbial communities, and affect plant growth, with evidence suggesting they can enter the food chain through crops.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics

This study examines the extent and impacts of soil pollution by microplastics, reviewing evidence of how microplastic particles accumulate in terrestrial environments and affect soil ecosystems, organisms, and agricultural systems.

2024 SPIRE - Sciences Po Institutional REpository
Article Tier 2

A discussion of microplastics in soil and risks for ecosystems and food chains

This review examines how microplastics accumulate in soils through agricultural practices, landfills, and wastewater, posing risks to ecosystems and food chains. Researchers found that while marine microplastic pollution has been well studied, terrestrial contamination remains poorly understood despite soil receiving more plastic waste than oceans. The study highlights how microplastics can alter soil properties, harm soil organisms, and potentially transfer through the food chain to humans.

2022 Chemosphere 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Interactions and Possible Combined Biological Effects in Antarctic Marine Ecosystems

This review examined microplastic interactions and potential combined biological effects in Antarctic marine ecosystems, highlighting how even remote polar environments face increasing threats from plastic debris transported from lower latitudes and local human activities.

2022 Animals 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in Terrestrial Ecosystems and the Soil?

This review examined the occurrence and behavior of microplastics in terrestrial ecosystems and soils, questioning how particles move through and accumulate in soils and calling for more research on land-based microplastic impacts.

2012 Environmental Science & Technology 1520 citations
Article Tier 2

Recent advances on ecological effects of microplastics on soil environment

This review summarizes recent advances in understanding the ecological effects of microplastics on soil environments. Researchers found that soils serve as major sinks for microplastics, which can alter soil properties, affect plant growth, disrupt soil microbial communities, and interact with other pollutants. The study highlights that terrestrial microplastic pollution may be even more pervasive than aquatic contamination and warrants greater research attention.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 322 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro Plastic Pollution in Soil Environment: A Comprehensive Review

This comprehensive review covers sources, distribution, degradation pathways, and ecological effects of microplastics in soil environments, highlighting threats to soil fauna, microbiota, and plant growth.

2024 Journal of Scientific Research and Reports 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Polar pollution: protecting Antarctic marine ecosystems from microplastics

This review investigated microplastic contamination in Antarctic marine ecosystems, finding that ocean currents carry plastics to even the most remote polar regions, and discussing the policy landscape and strategies needed to protect this ecologically critical environment.

2025 Ukrainian Antarctic Journal
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the sediments of Terra Nova Bay (Ross Sea, Antarctica)

The first survey of plastic contamination in Antarctic seafloor sediments from Terra Nova Bay found microplastics in all 31 samples collected, with a diverse range of polymer types. This confirms that even remote polar deep-sea sediments are not free of human-derived plastic pollution.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 302 citations
Article Tier 2

Soil Environment Pollution with Microplastic, Influence Factors and Environmental Risks

This review synthesizes research on microplastic contamination of soil environments, covering the major sources of soil microplastics, factors influencing their accumulation and distribution, and the environmental risks they pose to terrestrial ecosystems and agriculture.

2023 Ecology and Industry of Russia 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Isolation and Characterisation of Polypropylene Microplastic-Utilising Bacterium from the Antarctic Soil

A polypropylene microplastic-degrading bacterium was isolated from Antarctic soil, a region increasingly affected by microplastic pollution despite its remoteness from direct contamination sources. The study characterized the isolate's ability to colonize and degrade PP microplastics in the cold terrestrial Antarctic environment.

2024 arXiv (Cornell University) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution Has No Borders: Microplastics in Antarctica

This review documents the spread of microplastics throughout Antarctica -- in seawater, sediments, freshwater lakes, snow, glaciers, and marine organisms -- despite the continent having minimal local pollution sources. The findings demonstrate that microplastic contamination is truly global, reaching even the most isolated ecosystems on Earth through atmospheric and ocean currents.

2025 Environments 11 citations