We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
20 resultsShowing papers similar to Potential role of microplastic in sediment as an indicator of Anthropocene
ClearGeochemical Fingerprint and Stratigraphic Marker
This chapter explains how the global spread of plastic pollution — from ocean floors to mountain glaciers — makes plastic particles useful as geological markers of the Anthropocene era. The accumulation of microplastics in sediment layers provides a distinctive chemical and physical signature that will be readable in the geological record for millennia.
Downward migrating microplastics in lake sediments is a tricky indicator for the onset of the Anthropocene
This paper questions whether microplastics in lake sediment cores are a reliable marker for the start of the Anthropocene epoch. Researchers found that microplastics can migrate downward through sediment layers over time, which could give misleadingly old dates and complicate their use as a precise geological time marker.
The rapid increases in microplastics in urban lake sediments
Researchers used sediment cores from an urban lake in Wuhan, China, combined with high-resolution dating techniques, to track microplastic accumulation over the past 60 years. They found that microplastic abundance increased more than tenfold, from 741 to 7,707 items per kilogram, with fibers from textiles being the dominant type. The study suggests that microplastics could serve as geological markers of the Anthropocene era, similar to fossils in the sediment record.
Tracing the Anthropocene through microplastic sedimentary records: Drivers and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in Baiyangdian Lake, North China
Scientists found that tiny plastic pieces in lake sediment can track how human activities have changed over the past 80 years, with plastic pollution spiking after dam construction in 1963 and again around 2000 due to increased development. The study shows that microplastics are now everywhere in our environment, even in protected nature areas, though at lower levels than in more developed zones. This matters because these tiny plastics can enter our food and water supply, and understanding where they accumulate most helps us better protect both ecosystems and human health.
Are microplastics the ‘technofossils’ of the Anthropocene?
Researchers reviewed dating methods and microplastic data from sedimentary cores globally, establishing a chronological sequence of microplastic polymer types in sediment records and validating it against 39 published dated cores, demonstrating that microplastic composition can serve as a supplementary dating tool for Anthropocene sediments on a centennial scale.
Progress in assessment of the Anthropocene Series in the Geological Time Scale (GTS)
This paper reviews the progress in formally recognizing the Anthropocene as a new geological epoch, with human-made markers including microplastics now preserved in sediments worldwide. The widespread presence of microplastics in geological layers is one of the key signals of humanity's permanent impact on the planet.
The use of microplastics as a reliable chronological marker of the Anthropocene onset in Southeastern South America
Researchers analyzed microplastics in sediment cores from the world's largest coastal lagoonal system in southeastern South America, identifying a clear transition from microplastic-free sediments to contaminated layers that aligns with the onset of the Anthropocene.
Candidate sites and other reference sections for the Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point of the Anthropocene series
This paper reviews 12 proposed sites around the world that could serve as the official geological marker for the start of the Anthropocene, the proposed new epoch defined by human impact on the planet. Among the key markers of human influence found at these sites are microplastics, which appear in sediment layers starting around the mid-20th century. The widespread presence of microplastics in geological records underscores just how profoundly plastic pollution has altered the planet.
Human-environment interactions in the Anthropocene – a case study on reservoir sediments in Central Europe
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from Central European reservoirs to reconstruct a century of changing sediment fluxes, heavy metal contamination, and microplastic inputs linked to human land use change and climate-driven erosion. Microplastics appeared in cores beginning in the mid-20th century, with accelerating accumulation rates tracking regional industrialization and plastic production growth.
Downward migrating microplastics in lake sediments are a tricky indicator for the onset of the Anthropocene
Researchers studying lake sediment cores in northeastern Europe found that microplastics had migrated downward through sediment layers over time, appearing in layers that predate the era of plastic production. This means microplastics cannot be used as a reliable geological marker for the start of the modern era (Anthropocene), because the particles move through sediment rather than staying in place. The finding also highlights that microplastics can travel deeper into soil and sediment than previously assumed, potentially reaching groundwater.
Palaeontological evidence for defining the Anthropocene
This paper argues that palaeontological methods — including biostratigraphic analysis of fossil assemblages — can be used to formally define the Anthropocene as a geological epoch, as human impacts have created a distinct stratigraphic signature in the rock and sediment record. The presence of novel markers including plastic particles and industrial pollutants supports this designation.
Temporal distribution of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in four marine species from the Atlantic coast (France)
Researchers examined how microplastic and other anthropogenic particle abundances in lake sediments have changed over time using sediment cores, linking increases to historical industrialization and urbanization. The temporal record provides context for understanding how plastic pollution has accelerated in recent decades.
Beppu Bay, Japan, as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section and Point for the Anthropocene series
Researchers evaluated Beppu Bay sediments as a candidate Global boundary Stratotype Section for the Anthropocene, finding unprecedented increases in 99 anthropogenic proxies above a 1953 flood layer, including microplastics, radionuclides, and industrial pollutants.
CORE 100 The Anthropocene
This university course introduces the concept of the Anthropocene, examining how human activity has fundamentally altered Earth's atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. Microplastic pollution is one of the defining markers of the Anthropocene, present in sediments and ecosystems worldwide.
The Paleoecology of Microplastic Contamination
This paper reviews how paleoecological methods — using naturally accumulating environmental archives like sediment cores — can be applied to reconstruct the historical timeline of microplastic contamination. Long-term records are needed to establish baselines and understand how rapidly microplastic pollution has escalated over the past century.
Microplastics: Contaminants of Global Concern in the Anthropocene
This review summarizes the state of knowledge on microplastics as a global contaminant, covering their sources, distribution in different environments, and potential ecological and health effects. It frames microplastics as a defining pollution challenge of the Anthropocene era.
The potential of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) layers as Anthropocene strata
Researchers propose that municipal solid waste layers in landfills could serve as defining geological strata for the Anthropocene era, given their global distribution, clear temporal markers since the 1950s, and distinctive composition. These waste deposits preserve a record of human activity through novel materials like plastics, aluminum, and radioactive isotopes that have no precedent in geological history. The study argues that landfill strata offer a uniquely clear and anthropogenic signal compared to other proposed Anthropocene markers.
Microplastics in Sediment Cores from Asia and Africa as Indicators of Temporal Trends in Plastic Pollution
By extracting microplastics from dated sediment cores in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Africa, researchers reconstructed the historical increase in plastic pollution over decades. The study shows that microplastic accumulation in sediments tracks the global rise in plastic production, making sediment cores a useful record of pollution history.
Classification Framework for Assessing Anthropogenic Sedimentary Facies
Researchers proposed a new classification system for sediments that accounts for human-made materials, including plastics, alongside natural components. As the mass of manufactured materials now exceeds Earth's total dry biomass, traditional sediment classification frameworks are no longer sufficient. The system provides standardized descriptors for anthropogenic deposits across different environments, offering a practical tool for studying how plastic and other human-made debris integrate into geological records.
Antropocen : vad, när och hur?
This Swedish-language thesis examines the concept of the Anthropocene — the proposed geological epoch defined by human impacts on Earth — reviewing its scientific definition and potential stratigraphic markers. It provides context for understanding how plastic pollution is one of the defining markers of human influence on the planet.