Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Linking the Tourism Activity to the Occurrence and Distribution of Microplastics

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance, type, and spatial distribution in coastal water, sediments, and fish across three zones of Gili Trawangan, Indonesia, finding that tourism-related activities concentrated microplastics at recreational beaches with concentrations reaching 19.25 particles/L.

2025 Civil Engineering Journal 3 citations
Article Tier 2

The generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation

This study examined how tourism drives marine litter accumulation on Mediterranean island beaches, finding that tourist season dramatically increases litter loads. The authors evaluated mitigation strategies and found that active beach cleaning combined with visitor education can significantly reduce plastic accumulation in these heavily visited coastal ecosystems.

2021 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The impact of tourism on marine litter pollution on Santa Marta beaches, Colombian Caribbean

Tourism significantly increased litter pollution on beaches in Santa Marta, Colombia, with plastics making up 30-77% of macroplastic waste and microplastics ranging from 1 to 355 items per square meter during peak tourist season. Local residents identified tourism as the primary source, highlighting the need for better waste management and public education at coastal destinations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 150 citations
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

Study of plastic pollution and its potential sources on Gran Canaria Island beaches (Canary Islands, Spain)

A study of Gran Canaria beaches found that larger microplastic and mesoplastic fragments are primarily of foreign origin transported by currents, while smaller synthetic fibers are locally produced. The findings have implications for designing targeted policies to reduce microplastic pollution from both imported and locally generated sources.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 50 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic levels on sandy beaches: Are tourism and coastal recreational activities effects really important?

Researchers assessed microplastic levels at six sites across three Argentine sandy beaches with varying tourism intensity, finding concentrations averaged 1,133 items/kg in sand and 12.7 items/m3 in seawater, dominated by PE films and PET/cotton fibers. Contrary to expectations, the highest microplastic concentrations and smallest particles were found at a low-activity 'pristine' site, suggesting river proximity and coastal drift rather than tourism are the dominant local pollution drivers.

2022 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Urbanization Impacts on Microplastic in Benthic Organisms and Sediment of Small Islands

Researchers investigated how urbanisation on small islands in Indonesia affects microplastic contamination levels in benthic organisms and sediments, examining the impact of land use conversions from pristine ecosystems to settlements and tourism facilities.

2025 Journal of King Abdulaziz University-Marine Sciences
Article Tier 2

Influence of tourism on microplastic contamination at wastewater treatment plants in the coastal municipality of Chiclana de la Frontera

Researchers investigated how seasonal tourism affects microplastic contamination at wastewater treatment plants in a Spanish coastal town, finding that summer population surges significantly increased microplastic loads entering marine ecosystems.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, density, and influencing indicators of solid waste accumulation and mitigation solutions along coastlines on Isla Colón in Bocas del Toro Province, Panamá

This study assessed solid waste accumulation and marine debris on Isla Colon in Panama, finding that tourism growth and inadequate waste management have significantly increased coastal pollution. The research documents a common challenge facing rapidly developing tropical island destinations where plastic waste threatens both ecosystems and tourism economies.

2018 SIT Digital Collections (SIT Graduate Institute) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and identification of microplastics along a beach in the Biosphere Reserve of Lanzarote

Researchers documented microplastic accumulation on a remote beach in the Chinijo Archipelago of the Canary Islands, finding an average density of 36.3 grams per square meter with particles preferentially depositing in rock-sheltered areas, composed largely of polypropylene and polyethylene fragments.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 113 citations
Article Tier 2

Delving into the Reality of Waste at Coro Beach a Comprehensive Analysis and Innovative Solution Recommendations for Community-Based Sustainable Tourism

This study analyzes waste management challenges at Coro Beach in Indonesia, examining how inadequate infrastructure and single-use plastic consumption generate marine waste and proposing community-based sustainable tourism strategies to reduce microplastic pollution.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Canary Islands: A Case Study on Transport and Tourist Pressure

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in the Canary Islands, a region heavily influenced by Atlantic Ocean currents, and found that remote sources contributed significantly to local beach and water accumulation. The study also evaluated emerging contaminants on an EU regulatory watch list, finding limited but concerning data on ecological risks.

2025 Environments
Article Tier 2

Marine Debris Mitigation Strategy in Supporting the Development of Sustainable Tourism in SEZ Mandalika Lombok

This Indonesian study analyzed the characteristics and sources of marine debris on beaches in the Mandalika tourism zone in Lombok and proposed mitigation strategies. Managing plastic waste at tourist destinations is important for preventing further microplastic contamination of coastal ecosystems.

2023 Jurnal Presipitasi Media Komunikasi dan Pengembangan Teknik Lingkungan 2 citations
Article Tier 2

The generation of marine litter in Mediterranean island beaches as an effect of tourism and its mitigation

Researchers measured marine litter accumulation on Mediterranean island beaches and found that during peak tourist season, litter builds up nearly five times faster — amounting to an estimated 40 million items per day across all regional islands. Pilot cleanup and waste-reduction actions during high-season reduced litter by up to 52%, demonstrating that targeted interventions can meaningfully cut plastic pollution entering the sea.

2020 Scientific Reports 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Tackling Single-Use-Plastic in small touristic islands to reduce marine litter: co-identifying the best mix of policy interventions

Not relevant to microplastics — this study uses participatory stakeholder methods to design policy strategies for reducing single-use plastic waste in the tourism sector on small Greek islands, focused on upstream prevention rather than microplastic science.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Economics 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in tropical island estuaries in China: Source identification and management framework development

Researchers found surprisingly higher microplastic concentrations in the less-urbanized Wanquan River Estuary compared to the Nandu River Estuary in Hainan Island, China, suggesting that tourism and agricultural activities may contribute more significantly to microplastic pollution than urbanization alone.

2025 Marine Environmental Research
Article Tier 2

Perception and Awareness of Marine Plastic Pollution in Selected Tourism Beaches of Barobo, Surigao del Sur, Philippines

Researchers surveyed marine plastic litter on four tourism beaches in the Philippines and assessed local perceptions of marine pollution among beach visitors, finding significant litter accumulation that tourism management practices have failed to control. The study links beach litter levels to tourism activities and highlights the need for integrated coastal management.

2023 Journal of Environmental Management and Tourism 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the relationship between urbanization and plastic litter on sandy beaches in California, USA

A survey of 23 beaches along the California coast found that plastic litter abundance increased significantly with urbanization, as measured by surrounding population density.

2024 Regional Studies in Marine Science 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic debris in beaches of Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain)

Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance and composition at six beaches on Tenerife in the Canary Islands, finding widespread contamination with pellets and fragments dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, with higher concentrations on exposed north-coast beaches.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 106 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in surface waters and beaches of the Canary Islands: A review

This review assesses a decade of research on microplastic and mesoplastic pollution in the waters and beaches of the Canary Islands. The study highlights how the archipelago's position in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre makes it particularly vulnerable to oceanic transport of plastic debris from remote sources.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surface waters surrounding a touristic beach at the Gulf of California, Mexico

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in surface waters around a popular tourist beach in Mexico's Gulf of California, finding that particle levels roughly doubled after spring vacation compared to before. Fibers were the most abundant type, and concentrations were highest closest to tourist activity. The results directly link human recreational activity to spikes in coastal microplastic pollution, underscoring the role of tourism in contaminating marine environments.

2025 International Journal of Environmental Health Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The Relationship Between Macroplastic and Large-microplastic Abundance in the Northern Coastal Region of West Peninsular Malaysia

This study examined the relationship between macroplastic litter and large microplastic particles on beaches in the northern coastal region of Peninsular Malaysia, finding a positive correlation between the two. Macroplastic debris on beaches is a direct source of microplastics as it breaks down under UV exposure and physical abrasion.

2020 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in Leeward, Moorea and Cook islands (South Pacific): A baseline study

Researchers conducted a baseline survey of beach macrolitter and microplastics in surface waters and sediments across six islands in French Polynesia and the Cook Islands, finding high macroplastic contamination on most beaches with densities of 18-58 items per 100 meters. Surface water microplastic concentrations were low (0-4668 particles per km), suggesting localized contamination linked to tourism and coastal activities rather than widespread oceanic inputs.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution on sandy beaches of Puerto Rico

Researchers sampled sand from six northern beaches of Puerto Rico to determine microplastic abundance and composition, documenting the extent of microplastic pollution on Caribbean island coastal beaches that are considered biodiversity hotspots.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 36 citations