Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Unveiling small microplastics in Norwegian coastal sediment cores

Researchers examined the vertical distribution of small microplastics in sediment cores collected along the Norwegian Coastal Current as part of the JPI Oceans FACTS project, using a Multi-corer system to assess how microplastics are transported and deposited in European to Arctic coastal waters.

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

Diving into the Depths: Uncovering Microplastics in Norwegian Coastal Sediment Cores

Researchers analyzed microplastic vertical distribution in sediment cores from five sites along the Norwegian coast extending to Arctic waters, filling a gap in high-resolution depth profile data for European and Arctic sediments. Microplastics were found throughout core depths with concentrations generally increasing toward the surface in patterns reflecting historical plastic production growth.

2024 Environmental Science & Technology 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Diving into the deep: unveiling small microplastics in Norwegian coastal sediment cores

Researchers examined the vertical distribution of small microplastics in five sediment cores from the Norwegian Coastal Current, using advanced analytical methods down to 11 micrometers combined with radiometric dating, finding widespread microplastic presence across sediment layers up to 19 cm depth and providing insights into historical deposition rates.

2025
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of small microplastics in the Norwegian Coastal Current

Researchers mapped microplastic concentrations at multiple depths along the Norwegian Coastal Current, a major pathway carrying pollutants toward the Arctic. They found that the smallest microplastics, those under 50 micrometers, made up over 80% of all detected particles and were found at concentrations up to four orders of magnitude higher than larger microplastics, underscoring the importance of measuring these very small particles in ocean monitoring.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Accumulation and distribution of microplastics in coastal sediments from the inner Oslofjord, Norway

Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 0.02 to 1.71 MPs/g dry weight in sediments from the inner Oslofjord, Norway, with polyester fibers dominating (76%) and microplastic morphology and polymer type influencing accumulation in specific sediment grain-size fractions.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 39 citations
Article Tier 2

The role of oceanographic processes and sedimentological settings on the deposition of microplastics in marine sediment: Icelandic waters

Researchers analyzed microplastics from marine sediment cores collected at eight sites on the Iceland continental shelf, examining how oceanographic processes and sedimentological settings influence the deposition and distribution of microplastic debris on the seafloor.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments

Researchers analyzed deep-sea sediment cores and found microplastics present at depth, providing early evidence that deep-sea sediments globally accumulate microplastic pollution far from coastlines and at the seafloor.

2013 Environmental Pollution 1521 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in sediments from Norderney

Researchers surveyed sediments from Norderney in the North Sea and found widespread microplastic contamination, documenting spatial distribution patterns and particle characteristics across this tidally influenced coastal environment.

2014 Environmental Pollution 608 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the surface sediment of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, Arctic

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in surface sediments of Kongsfjorden, Svalbard, documenting MP presence in this remote Arctic fjord and contributing to understanding of microplastic distribution in polar sediment compartments.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Baseline Surveys at the Water Surface and in Sediments of the North-East Atlantic

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations at the sea surface and in sediments across the southern North Sea and northwestern Europe, finding highly variable but widespread contamination. Sediments contained far higher concentrations than surface waters, confirming that the seafloor acts as a major sink for microplastic pollution.

2017 Frontiers in Marine Science 308 citations
Article Tier 2

A large-scale study of microplastic abundance in sediment cores from the UK continental shelf and slope

Microplastic abundance was surveyed in sediment cores from three areas of the UK continental shelf, establishing a baseline pollution profile across contrasting coastal environments. Concentrations varied considerably by location and depth, with the data providing a foundation for future risk assessments of seafloor contamination.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the surface sediments of Krossfjord-Kongsfjord system, Svalbard, Arctic

Researchers found microplastics in surface sediments of the Krossfjord-Kongsfjord system in the Svalbard Arctic, with average abundances of 721 and 783 pieces/kg respectively, dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene fibres. The spatial distribution suggested that fragmentation during transport contributes to the prevalence of smaller particles.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic particles in sediment from an Arctic fjord

Researchers developed two sampling designs to collect sediment subsamples from an Arctic fjord in Svalbard, finding anthropogenic particles including microplastics and dyed fibres, and contributing to the limited data on plastic contamination levels in Arctic environments.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Svalbard fjords: influence of hydrodynamics and local pollution sources

Researchers studied the distribution of surface and subsurface microplastics in Svalbard fjords over three years (July 2021-2023), investigating how hydrodynamics, river discharge, and local pollution sources influence microplastic fate in Arctic coastal waters.

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

Global mapping for the occurrence of all-sized microplastics in seafloor sediments

Researchers compiled global seafloor microplastic data from 155 marine sediment samples including detailed sampling metadata and abundance measurements for 20 microplastic categories, providing foundational data for understanding the distribution and uncertainty of microplastic contamination on the seafloor.

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

Investigation of microplastic pollution in Arctic fjord water: a case study of Rijpfjorden, Northern Svalbard

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in the remote Rijpfjorden fjord in Northern Svalbard, sampling both surface water and the water column down to 200 m, and found widespread microplastic presence even in this Arctic environment far from major pollution sources.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in marine sediments from coastal and offshore in South Korea

Researchers conducted an intensive survey of microplastic levels and distribution in marine sediments from coastal areas, recognizing the seafloor as the ultimate repository for plastic particles. Microplastic concentrations in sediments were highest near urban and industrial coastlines, with fibers and fragments as the most common types.

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

Different stories told by small and large microplastics in sediment - first report of microplastic concentrations in an urban recipient in Norway

Small and large microplastics showed different distribution patterns in sediments from an urban Norwegian fjord, with small particles more broadly dispersed, suggesting that particle size affects transport dynamics and deposition in receiving waters.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 192 citations
Article Tier 2

Depth profiles of microplastics in sediments from inland water to coast and their influential factors

This review examines how microplastics settle and accumulate in deep sediment layers from rivers to coastal areas, revealing that contamination extends well below the surface. Generally, smaller microplastics are found at greater depths, and the abundance varies significantly from site to site. Understanding how microplastics bury themselves in sediments is important because these hidden reservoirs could release particles back into water supplies over time, affecting both ecosystems and human water sources.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic accumulation in deep-sea sediments from the Rockall Trough

Microplastics were found throughout sediment cores from over 2,000 meters depth in the North Atlantic's Rockall Trough, with concentrations decreasing with sediment age but extending well below the depth predicted by recent plastic production history, suggesting physical redistribution into older sediment layers. Microplastic abundance correlated with sediment porosity, indicating that pore water transport moves particles vertically after deposition.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 174 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution within core sediments of beach and its responses to anthropogenic activities

Researchers analyzed vertical microplastic distribution in beach sediment cores at five sites, finding that accumulation patterns in deeper layers reflect historical changes in human activities and coastal management, with anthropogenic pressure intensity correlating with microplastic depth profiles.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 29 citations
Article Tier 2

The fate of microplastic in marine sedimentary environments: A review and synthesis

A systematic review of 80 papers on microplastics in marine sediments found median concentrations varied widely by sediment environment, with fibers dominating many locations, and showed that sediment grain size and organic carbon content influence microplastic accumulation.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 381 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in marine sediments from coastal and offshore in South Korea

Researchers conducted an intensive survey of microplastic distribution and characterization in marine sediments from coastal areas, confirming the seafloor as a long-term sink for plastic pollution. Contamination was highest near urban coastlines, with fibers and fragments accumulating preferentially in low-energy depositional environments.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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