Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Challenges with microplastic pollution in the regime of UN sustainable development goals

Researchers reviewed the global challenge of microplastic pollution through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, highlighting how microplastics enter aquatic, terrestrial, and human health systems and how current international frameworks fall short of managing them. The review emphasizes that microplastics can carry and concentrate harmful chemicals like persistent organic pollutants, amplifying their risks throughout the food chain.

2025 World Development Sustainability 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Sustainable Development Goals and microplastics in seafood: a theoretical-reflective study

This theoretical review examined the relationship between microplastic contamination of seafood and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, arguing that strengthening water pollution policies and educating health professionals about microplastic risks are necessary to achieve SDG targets.

2025 Revista Brasileira de Enfermagem
Article Tier 2

International Marine Tourism

Not relevant to microplastics — this bibliometric analysis examines trends in international marine tourism research in the context of sustainable development, with no substantive focus on plastic or microplastic pollution.

2023 Pomorstvo 11 citations
Article Tier 2

International Environmental Law and Marine Pollution in the Pacific Islands: Promoting Sustainable Ocean Governance

Not relevant to microplastics — this international law paper reviews strategies for sustainable ocean governance in Pacific Island nations, covering fisheries management, waste policy, and regional cooperation, but does not focus specifically on microplastic contamination.

2023 Law and Economy 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Emerging threat of microplastics across environmental matrices encompassing sources ecotoxicological effects and management strategies within the framework of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This review synthesizes current knowledge on microplastic sources, environmental distribution, and ecotoxicological impacts across various environmental matrices, framed within the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The study highlights how microplastics accumulate across ecosystems and affect organisms at all trophic levels through ingestion and chemical exposure, while identifying management strategies aligned with global sustainability targets.

2026 Discover Sustainability
Article Tier 2

Micro Plastic Pollution in South Asia: The Impact of Plastic Pollution over the Unsustainable Development Goals

This review examines microplastic pollution across South Asian countries including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka, finding that rapid urbanization and poor plastic waste management are driving widespread contamination of freshwater, marine, and terrestrial ecosystems, with significant implications for sustainable development goals.

2023 Lex Publica 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in water, sediments and fish species in an urban coastal environment of Fiji, a Pacific small island developing state

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic levels in surface water, sediments, and fish from the urban coastal environment of Suva, Fiji. The study confirmed the presence of microplastics across all three matrices in this Pacific small island developing state, and evaluated contributions from local sources including wastewater, highlighting that microplastic pollution affects even remote island nations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Identifying opportunities for harmonized microplastics and mesoplastics monitoring for Caribbean Small Island Developing States using a spatiotemporal assessment of beaches in South Eleuthera, The Bahamas

Researchers assessed microplastic and mesoplastic pollution across 16 beaches with different coastal exposures in the Bahamas, finding that microplastics were the dominant debris type at 74 percent of samples, with significant differences between locations and seasons. The study highlights that Caribbean Small Island Developing States lack standardized monitoring protocols for microplastic pollution, leaving them without the data needed to participate effectively in global treaty negotiations. The findings point toward opportunities for developing harmonized monitoring approaches across the Caribbean region.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 18 citations
Review Tier 2

Circular economy, bioeconomy, and sustainable development goals: a systematic literature review

Researchers conducted a systematic review of 649 studies examining how circular economy and bioeconomy concepts contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. They found that while these approaches show promise for addressing environmental challenges including plastic waste, most research has focused on a limited set of goals and lacks empirical data. The study identifies key research gaps, including the need for more studies on economic and social impacts in developing countries.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling Microplastic Abundance and Distribution in an Oceanic Island: Offshore Depository or Local Pollution Indicator

Microplastic abundance and distribution were documented across surface waters and sediments of an oceanic island, with findings indicating both local land-based pollution and ocean gyre-driven deposition of particles from distant sources.

2024 Sustainability 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Urbanization Impacts on Microplastic in Benthic Organisms and Sediment of Small Islands

Researchers investigated how urbanisation on small islands in Indonesia affects microplastic contamination levels in benthic organisms and sediments, examining the impact of land use conversions from pristine ecosystems to settlements and tourism facilities.

2025 Journal of King Abdulaziz University-Marine Sciences
Article Tier 2

Evolving research perspectives on microplastic pollution: A focus on Sri Lanka in comparison to the South and Southeast Asian region

This review examines the evolving research landscape on microplastic pollution in Sri Lanka, comparing it to the broader South and Southeast Asian regional context. The paper identifies gaps in local monitoring data and highlights the need for standardized methodologies and expanded research capacity in the region.

2024 Ceylon Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics around an inhabited coral island in the Maldives, Indian Ocean

Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation across fore reef, reef flat, and beach sediment environments surrounding a small inhabited coral island in the Maldives, finding 1,244 individual microplastic pieces across 22 sampling sites. The study reveals that even remote inhabited islands in the Indian Ocean show significant microplastic contamination, with spatial distribution patterns reflecting local hydrodynamics and human activities.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Implementation of SDG 14 and Blue Economy Policies in Southeast Asia: A Comparative Policy Review

This policy review examines how seven Southeast Asian nations are implementing the UN's ocean sustainability goal (SDG 14) and blue economy frameworks, covering issues like marine protected areas, fishing practices, and waste management. While plastic waste and marine litter enter the discussion in the context of ocean health, the paper is primarily a comparative policy analysis rather than a microplastics research study. It is tangentially relevant as a governance backdrop for reducing plastic pollution at sea.

2025 Jurnal Ilmiah Akuntansi Kesatuan 1 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Development of Microplastic Research in ASEAN

This systematic review summarizes the development of microplastic research across Southeast Asian countries, mapping where studies have been conducted and what types of environments have been examined. The findings reveal significant gaps in our understanding of microplastic pollution in the region, which is home to several of the world's largest plastic-polluting countries and major seafood-exporting nations.

2021 E3S Web of Conferences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of community participation on sustainable development: an assessment of sustainability domains in Malaysia

This paper is not relevant to microplastics — it investigates how community participation in coral reef conservation programs affects sustainable development outcomes in Malaysia.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Blue Economy in Malaysia: An Endeavour of Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

This review examined Malaysia's progress toward sustainable blue economy development and achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals related to ocean health. It identified gaps in policy implementation and research coverage, including limited data on marine plastic pollution in Malaysian waters. The paper calls for stronger institutional frameworks to protect coastal and marine environments while supporting economic growth.

2022 International Journal of Academic Research in Economics and Management Sciences 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics and transport pathways of soil microplastics in coral reef islands with different developmental stages and human activities

Researchers mapped microplastic contamination in the soil of coral reef islands in the South China Sea and found 1,068 to 1,616 particles per kilogram across islands at different stages of development. More developed islands with greater human activity had higher contamination levels, and ocean currents and monsoons were the main forces spreading microplastics to less developed islands. The study shows that even remote island ecosystems are not safe from microplastic pollution, which can affect the soil and water these communities depend on.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Knowledge-based science in support of the blue growth ambition for small island developing states

This review examines knowledge-based science in support of blue economy development for small island developing states (SIDS), analyzing the unique challenges these nations face in sustainably managing coastal and marine resources. The study identifies key threats including climate change, sea-level rise, and increasing storm intensity, while assessing research priorities for balancing economic use with conservation.

2023 ICES Journal of Marine Science 5 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics in ASEAN region countries: A review on current status and perspectives

This review assessed microplastic research across ASEAN countries, finding that despite contributing heavily to ocean plastic waste, the region accounts for only about 5% of global microplastic studies, with major gaps in human health research.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollutant of Global Trends in the Marine Ecosystems around the Spermonde Archipelagos

Researchers surveyed microplastic and other pollutant concentrations in marine ecosystems around the Spermonde Archipelago in Indonesia, finding elevated plastic particle levels in nearshore waters and sediments. Coastal fishing communities and urban runoff were identified as the primary pollution sources in this biodiversity-rich tropical archipelago.

2024
Article Tier 2

SDG-14: Life Below Water

This book chapter reviews UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water), covering how ocean pollution, overfishing, and habitat loss threaten marine ecosystems. Plastic pollution, including microplastics, is identified as a major factor affecting the health of over 40% of the world's oceans.

2022 Sustainable development goals series 4 citations
Article Tier 2

STRATEGI COASTAL ZONE MANAGEMENT PADA PENGURANGAN SAMPAH PLASTIK SESUAI KE SDGs KE 14 EKOSISTEM LAUT DI WILAYAH PESISIR DKI JAKARTA

This Indonesian study reviewed coastal zone management strategies for reducing plastic waste on islands in Jakarta Bay's Kepulauan Seribu district, aligned with UN Sustainable Development Goals. The research proposes an integrated management approach that addresses both terrestrial plastic waste sources and marine plastic accumulation in this island conservation area.

2023 Riset Sains dan Teknologi Kelautan 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Global plastic pollution, sustainable development, and plastic justice

This review examines how plastic pollution, including microplastics, undermines sustainable development goals and disproportionately affects lower-income nations that lack waste management infrastructure. The authors propose a "plastic justice" framework to address the human rights dimensions of plastic pollution, which poses health risks to communities through contaminated water, food, and air.

2024 World Development 87 citations