Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Revealing accumulation zones of plastic pellets in sandy beaches

Researchers evaluated plastic pellet accumulation across 13 sandy beaches in São Paulo state, Brazil, using transects and vertical sediment profiles to one meter depth, identifying regional accumulation hotspots near ports and factories and finding that coastal dunes accumulated more pellets than backshores, with most concentrated in the top 40 cm.

2016 Environmental Pollution 101 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

Plastic Pellets in the Sandy Sediment of Beaches on the Middle Coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

This study evaluated plastic pellet (nurdle) abundance in beach sediments along the middle coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil — a region with low urbanization — and examined how proximity to the port of Rio Grande affected pellet density. Pellets are pre-production plastic granules that escape into the environment during manufacture and transport, and serve as a direct indicator of industrial plastic pollution pathways.

2023 Revista de Gestão Social e Ambiental 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic Litter on Beaches With Different Levels of Development and Use: A Snapshot of a Coast in Pernambuco (Brazil)

Beach litter was surveyed at nine sites in northeastern Brazil, finding plastic dominated at all beach types but with differences in litter composition linked to local activities. Characterizing litter sources at specific beaches is essential for targeted waste reduction policies.

2018 Frontiers in Marine Science 76 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pellet pathways: Understanding transport patterns to Santa Catarina Island, Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

Researchers modeled the transport trajectories of plastic pellets reaching Santa Catarina Island in southern Brazil from nearby port areas, and investigated their distribution and fate in the southwestern Atlantic. Pellet transport was strongly influenced by ocean circulation patterns, and landing sites on the island reflected source port locations, helping identify priority areas for pellet pollution mitigation.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 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

Microplástico em ambientes recifais da costa do Ceará, Nordeste brasileiro

Researchers documented the first record of microplastics in the skeleton of a reef-building coral species in the South Atlantic and tested whether proximity to polluted estuaries and regional population density influence microplastic concentration in reef sediments along the Ceara coast of northeastern Brazil. Sediment was collected from five reef environments including sites near Fortaleza, providing baseline data on microplastic accumulation in tropical reef ecosystems.

2024 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Analysis of the occurrence of microplastics in beach sand on the Brazilian coast

Researchers evaluated microplastic occurrence in beach sand along the Brazilian coastline using a simplified methodology. The study found widespread microplastic contamination and identified potential pollution sources linked to coastal urbanization and ocean currents.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Contaminação e toxicidade de microplásticos em uma área de proteção marinha costeira

This Brazilian study assessed microplastic contamination and toxicity in a coastal marine protected area, finding that sandy beaches accumulate plastic particles carried in by the ocean. The research highlights that even protected coastal zones are not immune to microplastic pollution, which can be ingested by marine wildlife and enter food webs.

2016 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Saúde ambiental de praias arenosas: distribuição e níveis de contaminação na biodiversidade bêntica

This Portuguese-language study assessed environmental health of sandy beaches in Brazil, measuring microplastic distribution, contamination indices, and bioindicator organisms to evaluate ecological status and identify pollution sources along the coastline.

2025 Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations (Universidade de São Paulo)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on the Portuguese coast

Researchers analysed marine litter across 11 Portuguese beaches over two years and found that 99% of all collected items were plastic, with 68% classified as microplastics under 5 mm and resin pellets comprising 79% of microplastics near industrial areas. Higher concentrations were observed in winter and autumn, near industrial zones and ports, suggesting a predominantly land-based origin.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 114 citations
Article Tier 2

Caracterização de microplásticos em amostras marinhas e estuarinas

This study characterized microplastics collected from marine and estuarine samples in Brazil, classifying them by size, shape, and polymer type. The findings document the widespread presence of microplastic contamination in these coastal ecosystems and provide baseline data for future monitoring.

2021
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Hotspots on a Tropical Estuarine-Bay System

Researchers mapped microplastic hotspots in the Santos Estuarine System in Brazil — the most populous estuary and largest seaport in the country — characterizing accumulation and export dynamics of microplastics in a high-traffic coastal environment.

2025
Article Tier 2

Beach morphodynamics and its relationship with the deposition of plastic particles: A preliminary study in southeastern Brazil

Researchers found that beach morphodynamic characteristics influence the deposition of plastic particles on beaches in São Paulo, Brazil, with 745 particles recovered — mostly styrofoam — and accumulation patterns correlating with beach profile dynamics.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Rainfall and Tidal Cycle Regulate Seasonal Inputs of Microplastic Pellets to Sandy Beaches

Researchers assessed how rainfall and tidal cycles regulate seasonal inputs of microplastic pellets to sandy beaches at regional and local scales, using pellets as a proxy pollutant to quantify spatio-temporal variation in stranding patterns near port facilities and industrial sites. Results showed that rainfall-driven runoff and tidal dynamics are primary controls on pellet delivery to beaches, with implications for managing industrial microplastic releases to coastal environments.

2020 Frontiers in Environmental Science 64 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine debris on a tropical coastline: Abundance, predominant sources and fate in a region with multiple activities (Fortaleza, Ceará, northeastern Brazil)

Researchers conducted the first systematic assessment of marine debris on the coastline of Fortaleza, Brazil, finding that over 80% of debris was synthetic, with recreational activities as the dominant source and small items like cotton swabs and lollipop sticks comprising the most numerous fraction — while river input played a minor role due to seasonal dry periods.

2020 Waste Management 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Dispersão de microplásticos em águas superficiais e sedimentos de fundo da plataforma continental de Fortaleza

Researchers examined the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in surface waters and bottom sediments of the continental shelf off Fortaleza, Brazil, characterizing MP abundance and morphology to assess contamination levels in this South American marine environment.

2025 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of solid waste and microplastics in southeastern Brazilian islands: a comprehensive analysis

Solid waste and microplastic abundance and distribution were characterized on beaches of three islands in southeastern Brazil - Trindade, Grande, and Paqueta - varying in proximity to the continent and occupation patterns. The study identified factors driving debris origin and distribution, including island remoteness, tourism, and proximity to shipping routes.

2024 Ocean and Coastal Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Risk assessment of microplastic exposure: A case study near a refinery factory at the central coast of Vietnam

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination on a beach near a refinery on the central coast of Vietnam and found plastic particles in all collected samples, averaging about 1,582 particles per kilogram of sediment. Fibers and fragments were the dominant shapes, with polyethylene terephthalate being the most common polymer type. The study indicates that industrial coastal areas face elevated microplastic pollution levels that may pose environmental and health risks.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 24 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

Microplastics and Geotechnical Characteristics of the Sand at Praia Do Futuro, Ceará, Brazil

A survey of microplastic concentrations in beach sediments at Praia do Futuro, Brazil found levels that exceeded those in other Brazilian studies but were lower than many international benchmarks, with no significant difference between tourist-heavy and quieter zones. The study also characterized the sand's physical properties, providing baseline data for future monitoring in a region where coastal microplastic research has been limited.

2026 Pesquisa Operacional
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on Santos Beach: Sources of Pollution, Waste Characteristics and Possible Collection Solutions

Researchers characterized microplastics collected from three zones of Santos beach in Brazil, finding contamination dominated by fragments and films near sewage outfalls. The study highlights inadequate waste management as the primary driver of beach microplastic accumulation and assessed feasibility of mechanical collection interventions.

2025 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Seasonal variation and spatial distribution of microplastic pellets and their associated contaminants along the central east coast of India

Microplastic pellets were documented for the first time along eight beaches of Andhra Pradesh on India's central east coast, with higher abundance during the northeast monsoon season, and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis confirming adsorption of heavy metals including Ni, Cr, Cu, Pb, and Zn.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigação científica de microplásticos na praia Pedra do Sal em Parnaíba – Piauí

This Brazilian Portuguese study assessed microplastic pollution in beach sediments at Pedra do Sal beach in Parnaíba, documenting contamination in an area with limited prior research. The study contributes to baseline data on microplastic contamination along Brazil's northeastern coastline.

2023 Somma Revista Cientifica do Instituto Federal de Educação Ciência e Tecnologia do Piauí