Papers

61,005 results
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Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review and scientometrics analysis on microplastic pollution on coastal beaches around the globe

This systematic review analyzes microplastic pollution on coastal beaches worldwide. The research found that beach contamination varies widely by region but is present on virtually every coastline studied. This matters because beaches are not just recreational areas but also habitats where microplastics can enter marine food webs and eventually reach people through seafood consumption.

2025 Continental Shelf Research 4 citations
Review Tier 2

Estimating global marine surface microplastic abundance: systematic literature review

Researchers conducted a systematic literature review to estimate global marine surface microplastic abundance, compiling data from studies worldwide to produce abundance maps. The study found significant variation in microplastic concentrations across different ocean regions, providing a broader picture of the scale and distribution of marine microplastic pollution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 61 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of plastic debris in the South American Atlantic Ocean coast – Distribution, characteristics, policies and legal aspects

Researchers compiled and reviewed studies on plastic debris along the entire South American Atlantic coast, covering distribution patterns, types of plastic, and existing policies. They found that macroplastic items like packaging and cigarette butts dominate beach litter, while microplastic contamination is widespread in water and sediment across the region. The review highlights significant gaps in research coverage and inconsistencies in national regulations that hinder effective plastic pollution management.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 30 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

Progress on microplastics pollution and its ecological effects in the coastal environment

This review systematically summarizes a decade of research on microplastic pollution and its ecological effects in coastal environments worldwide, identifying persistent technical challenges in sampling standardization, particle identification, and ecological impact assessment. Researchers highlight the need for unified methodologies to better understand the sources, fate, and biological consequences of coastal microplastic contamination.

2015 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 29 citations
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

Evidence of microplastics pollution in coastal beaches and waters in southern Sri Lanka

Researchers found microplastic pollution along 91 km of coastline in southern Sri Lanka, with 60% of beach sand sites and 70% of surface water sites testing positive, characterizing the polymers, shapes, and colors present across the sampled coastal environments.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, Composition, and Relationships in Marine Plastic Debris on the First Long Beach Adjacent to the Land-Based Source, South China Sea

Researchers characterized the occurrence, composition, and relationships of marine plastic debris collected from a remote location during a first systematic survey. The study provides baseline data on plastic litter types and polymer composition in an understudied marine region.

2020 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 15 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

Research priorities on microplastics in marine and coastal environments: An Australian perspective to advance global action

Researchers conducted a systematic review of microplastic research across Australian coastal environments and gathered expert stakeholder input to identify priority research directions. They found significant gaps in understanding microplastic sources, transport pathways, and biological impacts specific to Australian marine ecosystems. The study provides a framework of research priorities aimed at informing evidence-based policy and management strategies for microplastic pollution.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Research landscape of a global environmental challenge: Microplastics

This bibliometric analysis mapped global microplastic research output, finding a sharp increase in publications since 2006 and identifying China, the USA, and Germany as the most prolific contributors. The study distinguishes between primary microplastics (industrially produced) and secondary microplastics (formed by fragmentation) and contextualizes their global distribution.

2019 Water Research 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Pollution and Their Potential Impact in Marine Systems: A Case Study in Shandong Peninsula, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in marine environments around China's Shandong Peninsula, documenting contamination levels and potential impacts on the region's important fishing, aquaculture, and tourism industries.

2023 ACS ES&T Water 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in coastal and oceanic surface waters and their role as carriers of pollutants of emerging concern in marine organisms

Researchers analyzed 167 studies on microplastics in ocean surface waters and marine organisms, finding that fragments and fibers are the most common particle types across all regions studied. The review highlights that microplastics act as carriers for other harmful pollutants, increasing the chemical burden on marine life. The uneven global distribution of research means that microplastic contamination in many ocean regions remains poorly understood.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Analysis of the Current Situation of Marine Garbage and Microplastic Pollution in Typical Coastal Areas of Qingdao

Researchers investigated coastal marine debris and microplastic pollution at two beaches in Qingdao, China, examining the types, sources, components, and spatiotemporal distribution through field surveys, sample analysis, and component identification. The study proposed management responses including strengthened public education, stricter monitoring measures, and promotion of technological innovation and international cooperation.

2024 Scientific and Social Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination on the Beaches of South China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across 14 beaches along the South China coast, finding microplastics ubiquitously present in sandy sediments, predominantly as small fragments under 1 mm, with distribution patterns linked to coastal urbanization and ocean current dynamics.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and importance of microplastics in the marine environment: A review of the sources, fate, effects, and potential solutions

This review synthesized research on the distribution and significance of microplastics across the marine environment, covering sources, transport pathways, ecological interactions, and the state of knowledge on biological and chemical effects.

2017 Environment International 2517 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review on microplastic contamination in marine sediment and water of Asia: Concentration, characterization, and polymeric risk assessment

This systematic review examines microplastic contamination in marine sediment and water across Asia, drawing from over 300 studies. The research found widespread contamination with fibers and fragments being the most common types, with polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant plastics. This is relevant to human health because Asian coastal waters supply a significant portion of the world's seafood.

2025 Water Environment Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Brazil's coastal marine surface waters: The first macroregional baseline from the global south

Researchers conducted the largest microplastic survey in the Global South, sampling 4,134 surface water sites across 7,500 km of Brazilian coastline, finding the highest concentrations in the Eastern Coastline (16.87 MPs/L) and lowest in the Amazonian Equatorial region (1.29 MPs/L), with spatial patterns driven by hydrodynamic conditions, salinity, proximity to sewage, and anthropogenic inputs.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea: Deposition in coastal shallow sediments, spatial variation and preferential grain size

Researchers sampled Mediterranean coastal shallow sediments and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and polymer types reflecting land-based inputs and showing that coastal sediments are a significant regional reservoir for plastic debris.

2016 Marine Environmental Research 617 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in Seawater: A Review Study

This review study systematically evaluated recent data on microplastic contamination in seawater, synthesizing findings on distribution, concentration, polymer types, and ecological impacts in marine ecosystems. The evidence confirms that microplastic pollution is a growing global concern with documented negative effects on marine biota.

2023 Nature Environment and Pollution Technology 5 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

Plastic pollution in the marine environment

This review provides a comprehensive overview of plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments, covering everything from how plastics enter the ocean to their effects on marine life. Researchers compiled global data showing microplastic concentrations ranging widely across different water bodies and sediments, with marine organisms accumulating significant amounts. The study underscores that plastic pollution causes ecological damage through entanglement, ingestion toxicity, and the transport of invasive species.

2020 Heliyon 939 citations
Article Tier 2

An Integrated Assessmentof Microplastic Pollutionin Coastal Surface Water and Sediment of Japan

Researchers conducted an integrated assessment of microplastic pollution in coastal surface water and sediment around Japan, providing a comprehensive dataset that clarifies the extent of contamination in Japanese coastal areas previously lacking systematic monitoring data.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments

Beach sands from three locations on the Indian coast were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations of 45–220 particles/kg dry sand with polyethylene (43%) as the dominant polymer, followed by PET and polystyrene. The study establishes baseline contamination data for Indian beaches and demonstrates consistent polymer profiles across geographically distinct coastal environments.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 432 citations