Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastic mass in deep-sea sediment along a transect in the north pacific

Researchers collected sediment cores at six sites along an 800-km east-west transect offshore from San Diego and used pyrolysis-GC/MS targeting ten polymers to quantify microplastic mass fractions, finding higher polymer detection rates and concentrations at sites closer to shore compared to offshore locations.

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

Microplastic pollution in the water column and benthic sediment of the San Pedro Bay, California, USA

This study conducted one of the first comprehensive surveys of microplastic distribution throughout the entire water column and seafloor sediment in San Pedro Bay, California. Researchers found that microplastic concentrations were significantly higher in nearshore waters than offshore, and that fibers were the most common particle type, providing important baseline data for understanding coastal microplastic pollution.

2025 Environmental Research 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastic mass in deep-sea sediment along a transect in the north pacific

Researchers collected sediment cores at six sites along an approximately 800 km transect offshore from San Diego, California in December 2022, using radiometric dating alongside microplastic analysis to quantify microplastic mass in deep-sea sediments and improve understanding of sedimentation rates and long-term plastic accumulation in the North Pacific.

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

Distribution and controlling factors of microplastics in surface sediments of typical deep-sea geomorphological units in the northern South China Sea

Researchers collected surface sediments from typical deep-sea geomorphological units — sand dunes, sediment drifts, and submarine canyon channels and levees — in the northern South China Sea to examine how sedimentary dynamic conditions control the distribution of microplastics in deep-sea environments.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

The first report on emerged microplastics in deep-sea sediment: Insights from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Researchers reported the first detection of emerged (beach-cast) microplastics in deep-sea sediments from an understudied region, characterizing particle types, polymer composition, and likely transport pathways. The findings confirm that even remote deep-sea environments receive microplastic inputs.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of Microplastics in Marine Sediments from the Gulf of Tehuantepec, Mexican Pacific

Researchers characterized microplastics in marine sediments from the Gulf of Tehuantepec along the Mexican Pacific coast, categorizing particles by size, shape, color, and polymer type. They found widespread microplastic contamination in beach sediments near the Tehuantepec River mouth. The study provides baseline pollution data for this understudied region and raises concerns about potential impacts on benthic organisms and the broader marine food web.

2024 Carpathian Journal of Earth and Environmental Sciences 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparison of Microplastic abundance in varying depths of deep-sea sediments, Bay of Bengal

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in deep-sea sediment samples from the Bay of Bengal at depths of 225 to 1,070 meters, finding the highest concentrations at intermediate depths. The findings add to evidence that microplastics have penetrated into deep-sea environments far from the surface.

2022 OCEANS 2022 - Chennai 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments and organisms of the Western Pacific Ocean

Researchers collected deep-sea sediment and organism samples from multiple sites in the western Pacific Ocean and found microplastics at all locations sampled, with depth, distance from land, and current patterns influencing accumulation, confirming the western Pacific deep sea as a significant microplastic sink.

2020 Environmental Pollution 378 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

Microplastics particles in seafloor sediments along the Arabian Sea and the Andaman Sea continental shelves: First insight on the occurrence, identification, and characterization

This first study of seafloor sediment microplastics on the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea continental shelves found plastic particles across all sampled stations, with fiber and fragment shapes dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, establishing a baseline for these deep-margin environments.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution pattern and influencing factors for the microplastics in continental shelf, slope, and deep-sea surface sediments from the South China Sea

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution in surface sediments across the continental shelf, slope, and deep-sea floor of the northern South China Sea. The study found an average abundance of about 131 particles per kilogram, with distribution patterns influenced by ocean currents, water depth, and proximity to river inputs.

2022 Environmental Pollution 63 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the deep-sea microplastic Odyssey: Characteristics, distribution, and ecological implications in Pacific Ocean sediments

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in deep-sea sediments from the Pacific Ocean at depths reaching nearly 7,000 meters. They found microplastics at every sampling site, predominantly polyester and rayon fibers, with the highest concentrations in the Western Pacific. The study highlights that microplastic pollution has reached some of the most remote deep-sea environments on Earth, raising concerns about its ecological impact.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 10 citations
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
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

Determination of the presence of microplastics in intertidal sediments of deception island, antarctica

Researchers determined the presence and characteristics of microplastics in intertidal sediments of Deception Island, Antarctica, providing evidence that plastic contamination has reached one of Earth's most remote environments and documenting the role of marine sediments as sinks for persistent microplastic pollution.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
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

Differences in distribution and characteristics of microplastics in sediments of the south-eastern part of the Gulf of Trieste

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution and characteristics in sediments across the south-eastern Gulf of Trieste, a semi-enclosed sea with limited prior research. The study aimed to identify sources and spatial patterns of microplastic accumulation in this geomorphologically distinct coastal area.

2024 Frontiers in Marine Science 4 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

Plastics from Surface to Seabed: Vertical Distribution of (Micro)plastic Particles in the North Pacific Ocean

Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics across the water column and deep-sea sediments (>5 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, finding concentrations of 8-2600 items/m3 in the water column and 1100-3200 items/kg in sediments, with distinct patterns across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Papahanaumokuakea Monument, and a less-polluted open ocean site.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in intertidal sediments at Deception Island, Antarctica

Researchers found microplastics (2.22–31.09 items per kilogram) in intertidal sediments on Deception Island, Antarctica—a volcanic island in the South Shetland Islands—with polyethylene and PVC as the dominant polymers, establishing the first microplastic baseline for this remote Antarctic location. The presence of microplastics in Antarctic intertidal zones confirms that contamination has reached even the most isolated coastal environments on Earth. This baseline is essential for tracking future trends and understanding cumulative pollution pressure on Antarctic marine ecosystems.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin