Papers

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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters, sediments, and wild crabs of mangrove ecosystems of East Java, Indonesia

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across ten mangrove ecosystems in East Java, Indonesia, finding microplastics in surface water, sediment, and wild crabs — with each crab containing an average of 48 plastic particles in its gills and digestive tract, more than 60% of which were fibers. The strong correlation between sediment contamination and microplastics found inside the crabs points to a pathway through which plastics enter the marine food web.

2024 Emerging contaminants 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in finfish and shellfish from the mangroves of the northern Gulf of Oman

This study assessed microplastic pollution in finfish and shellfish from mangrove habitats in the northern Gulf of Oman, finding the highest prevalence in crabs, with fragments and fibers as the dominant particle types, confirming microplastic contamination in ecologically important coastal ecosystems.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrenceand characteristics of microplastics in benthic species from mangrove wetlands of Hainan, South China

Researchers found microplastics in 10 species of benthic organisms — including crabs, bivalves, and snails — across seven mangrove areas in Hainan, China, confirming that mangrove ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them are significantly contaminated by microplastic pollution.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Scylla Serrata: A baseline study from southwest India

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the mud crab Scylla serrata from mangrove habitats on India's southwestern coast and found an average of about 29 microplastic particles per individual. Fibers were the dominant type, and polypropylene and polyethylene were the most common polymers detected. The study establishes a baseline for microplastic presence in a commercially important crab species, raising questions about potential human exposure through seafood consumption.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 11 citations
Article Tier 2

The Mud Crab Buffet: Microplastics pollution in Scylla Serrata from Kota Mangroves

Researchers recovered 264 microplastic particles from the guts of mud crabs (Scylla serrata) collected from mangroves in Karnataka, India, averaging about 29 particles per crab, with polypropylene, high-density polyethylene, and polyester being the dominant plastics. A hazard index assessment rated the microplastic contamination as a severe risk to the crabs, underscoring the threat to mangrove ecosystems and the seafood that humans consume from them.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Thai vinegar crabs (Episesarma mederi), giant mudskippers (Periophthalmodon schlosseri), and their surrounding environment from the Bang Pu mangrove forests, Samut Prakan province, Thailand

Thai vinegar crabs and giant mudskippers from a mangrove forest in Thailand's inner Gulf both contained microplastics — averaging up to 16 particles per individual in crabs and 11 in mudskippers — with small fibres dominating and polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymers. Mangrove ecosystems act as accumulation zones for land- and sea-sourced plastic waste, and contamination of these organisms signals risk for the broader food web and for communities that consume mangrove seafood.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Holistic assessment of microplastics in various coastal environmental matrices, southwest coast of India

A comprehensive assessment of microplastic pollution along the southwest coast of India analyzed multiple environmental matrices including water, sediments, and biota, finding plastic contamination throughout coastal systems. The holistic approach revealed how microplastics move through coastal food webs and identified fishing and tourism activities as key local sources.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 296 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal ecosystems: a review of sources, distribution, and ecological implications

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal waters and sediments, finding concentrations as high as 200 particles per liter in some areas, with pollution disrupting mangrove and coral reef ecosystems, entering the food chain through seafood, and posing inflammation and endocrine disruption risks to humans.

2025 Discover Geoscience 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Revealing Microplastic Contamination in Mangrove Sediments from Setiu Wetlands, Malaysia

Researchers found 2,292 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment in the mangrove wetlands of Setiu, Malaysia, with over 80% being tiny fibers likely from fishing gear and packaging. Areas near aquaculture operations had the highest contamination levels, and the microplastic surfaces showed signs of environmental degradation that could make them more toxic. Mangrove ecosystems act as natural traps for microplastics, concentrating pollution in habitats that are vital for fisheries and coastal protection.

2025 Indonesian Journal of Chemistry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of secondary microplastics trapped in mangrove ecosystem of a highly populated tropical megacity, India

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in Mumbai's mangrove ecosystem across six zones and 30 sampling sites. They found an average of 6,730 microplastic particles per kilogram of dry sediment, dominated by fibers and polyethylene, with concentrations decreasing at greater sediment depths, highlighting the need for management policies to protect coastal environments.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 6 citations
Article Tier 2

The Ecological Implication of Microplastic in Crabs from a Tropical Lagoon: Ingested Microplastic in Mud Crab Scylla serrata

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion by crabs from a tropical lagoon in West Africa, quantifying particles found in digestive tissues and assessing ecological implications for the local ecosystem. Widespread microplastic ingestion was documented across crab species and size classes.

2024 Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in Peruvian mangrove sediments and edible mangrove species

Scientists found microplastics in sediment and two popular seafood species (black ark clams and mangrove crabs) from mangrove ecosystems in Peru. Both species contained microplastics, with crabs having slightly more than clams, and fibers were the most common type found. Since these are commonly eaten foods, the findings raise concerns about microplastic exposure through seafood in South American coastal communities.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance of microplastics found in Clibanarius rhabdodactylus samples collected from different coastal habitats of Gujarat State, India.

This study reports the abundance of microplastics recovered from Clibanarius rhabdodactylus hermit crabs sampled across multiple coastal habitats in Gujarat State, India.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Assessment of Microplastic Pollution Across the Malabar Coast, India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and commercially important fish along the Malabar coast in India. They found microplastics in all sample types, with the highest concentrations in fish gastrointestinal and gill tissues, predominantly consisting of fragments and fibers of common plastics like HDPE, PET, and nylon. The study points to direct discharges, runoff, and poor wastewater management as key sources, underscoring the need for regulatory measures to protect both marine ecosystems and the people who consume seafood from the region.

2024 Environmental Quality Management 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and diversity of microplastics along the aquatic food web in the largest mangrove reserve of China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across the food web in China's largest natural mangrove reserve, examining fish, crabs, shrimp, and bivalves. They found that fish contained the most microplastics, and that organisms feeding indiscriminately accumulated more plastic particles than selective feeders. The study introduces a microplastic diversity index that reveals surprisingly complex contamination patterns across different species and trophic levels in mangrove ecosystems.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in the coastal mangrove sediments of China

A survey of mangrove sediments along China's coast found microplastics were ubiquitous, with concentrations and polymer types varying by proximity to human activity and hydrological conditions. The study shows that mangrove forests, which provide critical coastal ecosystem services, are accumulating significant quantities of plastic pollution.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of elevated microplastic accumulation in Pacific Island mangrove sediments

Researchers found that mangrove sediments in Fiji contained nearly ten times more microplastics than surrounding non-mangrove areas, with consistent results across both urban and rural sites. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and the contamination levels were comparable to heavily polluted regions elsewhere in the world. The study highlights that mangroves, while vital coastal ecosystems, may be acting as significant traps for microplastic pollution in Pacific Island nations.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Macroecotoxicological approaches to emerging patterns of microplastic bioaccumulation in crabs from estuarine and marine environments

Smaller, shorter-lived crabs and those from estuarine intertidal/muddy habitats accumulated significantly more microplastics, with burrowing species holding more particles than omnivorous ones. Crabs at lower latitudes -- likely due to mangrove trapping effects -- and non-human-consumed species showed higher microplastic loads, with colorless PA, PP, and PET fibers (1-5 mm) predominating.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Abundance in Edible Crabs and Gastropods on the Blanakan Coast

Researchers sampled water, sediment, crabs, and gastropods along the Blanakan coast of Indonesia and detected microplastics in all sample types, with fragments, films, fibers, and pellets all present — suggesting widespread contamination that poses a food safety concern for local seafood consumed by humans.

2023 Journal of Sustainability Science and Management
Article Tier 2

Characterization and ecological risk assessment of microplastics accumulated in sea water, sand, sediment, shell water and selected tissues of hermit crab of Sundarban Biosphere Reserve

This study characterized microplastics in an aquatic environment and conducted an ecological risk assessment, finding that particle abundance and polymer composition posed a measurable but variable hazard to local organisms. Fibers and fragments of polyethylene and polypropylene were the most frequently detected types.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro-contaminant, but immense impact: Source and influence of diethyl phthalate plasticizer on bottom-dwelling fishes

Researchers tracked microplastic accumulation in mangrove sediments along a tropical coastline, finding concentrations up to 1,200 particles per kilogram of dry sediment. Mangroves appear to act as sinks for floating plastic debris, with fibers dominating the assemblage.

2022 Chemosphere 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on the Role of Mangroves in Entrapping Microplastics in Tuticorin Coast of Gulf of Mannar, Southeast Coast of India

Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in mangrove sediments versus open-beach control sites along the coast of southern India and found consistently higher levels within mangrove areas. Polyethylene and polypropylene fibers in the 1–3 mm range were most common, and weathering analysis confirmed significant environmental degradation of the particles. The findings suggest that mangrove root systems act as natural traps for microplastics, which has implications for both ecosystem health and the many coastal communities that rely on mangroves for fisheries and shore protection.

2023 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Dataset of microplastics in the mangrove brachyuran crabs at Setiu Wetlands, Peninsular Malaysia

This dataset documents microplastic contamination found in four species of mangrove crabs with different feeding habits at Setiu Wetlands in Malaysia. The data reveal that microplastics accumulate in these crabs regardless of feeding strategy, indicating widespread contamination in mangrove ecosystems.

2023 Data in Brief 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic prevalence, diversity and characteristics in commercially important edible bivalves and gastropods in relation to environmental matrices

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics in the tissues of commercially important bivalves and gastropods from the southwest coast of India, finding MPs across all five species examined and raising concerns about seafood safety.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 26 citations