Papers

20 results
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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

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of the Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastics were found in both beach sediments and coastal seawater along 42 kilometers of Sri Lanka's western coastline, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common types. The results document significant plastic contamination along the coast of a densely populated South Asian nation, raising concerns about exposure for coastal communities and marine life in the Indian Ocean region.

2024 Water 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Life Cycle Assessment of Selected Single-Use Plastic Products towards Evidence-Based Policy Recommendations in Sri Lanka

Researchers applied life cycle assessment to common single-use plastic products in Sri Lanka, quantifying their environmental impacts across production to disposal and providing evidence-based recommendations to guide national plastic pollution policy.

2022 Sustainability 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastic abundance and types were quantified in beach sediments and seawater across nine sites along 42 km of Sri Lanka's western coast, documenting widespread contamination in estuarine and coastal environments.

2024 Preprints.org 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Waste Management in the Global South: an Inquiry on the Patterns of Plastic and Waste Material Flows in Colombo, Sri Lanka

This dissertation analyzed plastic and waste material flows in Colombo, Sri Lanka, examining the social dynamics, governance structures, and ecological impacts of waste management in a developing city context. The research highlights how plastic waste management challenges in the Global South are deeply intertwined with urbanization, inequality, and colonial legacies.

2000 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evolving research perspectives on microplastic pollution: A focus on Sri Lanka in comparison to the South and Southeast Asian region

This review examines the evolving research landscape on microplastic pollution in Sri Lanka, comparing it to the broader South and Southeast Asian regional context. The paper identifies gaps in local monitoring data and highlights the need for standardized methodologies and expanded research capacity in the region.

2024 Ceylon Journal of Science
Article Tier 2

Investigating the Role of Tourists and Impact of Knowledge, Behaviour, and Attitude Towards Plastic Waste Generation

Researchers surveyed tourists to assess how their knowledge, attitudes, and behavior influence plastic waste generation at outdoor recreation sites, finding that awareness gaps drive littering and that circular economy approaches could convert tourist-generated waste into local economic opportunity.

2022 Circular Economy and Sustainability 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Community awareness and perceptions on microplastics: a case study from Sri Lanka

A community survey in Sri Lanka assessed public awareness of microplastic pollution using convenience sampling across rural and urban areas, finding generally low awareness of microplastics as an environmental and health concern. The results highlight the need for public education campaigns about microplastic risks and regulatory measures.

2023 Ceylon Journal of Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution of Stream Water and Sediment in a Tributary of a Major Drinking Water Supplying River in Sri Lanka

Researchers monitored microplastic pollution in stream water and sediment of a tributary feeding a major drainage system, documenting spatial patterns of contamination and identifying land use practices as key predictors of microplastic abundance in this freshwater system.

2025 ACS ES&T Water 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards Plastic Circularity: Current Practices in Plastic Waste Management in Japan and Sri Lanka

A comparison of plastic waste management in Japan and Sri Lanka found that Japan practices the full plastic value chain while Sri Lanka relies heavily on an informal recycling sector, and recommends Japan's Extended Producer Responsibility approach as a model for Sri Lanka to improve plastic circularity.

2023 Sustainability 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Content in Non-Point Source And Point Sources of Colombo And Suburbs – Experimental Study on the Impact of Seasonal Variation

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations at point and non-point source locations in Colombo, Sri Lanka, across different seasons. Microplastics were found throughout the surface water network, with concentrations varying by season and location type. The study provides valuable baseline data for a poorly studied region and highlights urban water bodies as major microplastic sources.

2023 Proceedings of the sliit international conference on engineering and technology
Article Tier 2

Quantification and morphological characterization of plastic litter (0.30–100 mm) in surface waters of off Colombo, west coast of Sri Lanka

Surface water off Colombo, Sri Lanka, contained an average of 140 plastic items per square meter, with 99.6% classified as small microplastics under 1 mm in size. Filament-shaped plastics dominated and concentrations were highest near the most populated coastal districts, reflecting urban plastic pollution inputs.

2020 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Present Status of Microplastic Pollution Research Data in Sri Lanka and Microplastic Risk Mitigation Solutions; Lessons from a Global Policy Context

This review synthesizes the present status of microplastic pollution research data in Sri Lanka and evaluates risk mitigation solutions within a global policy context. The paper assesses monitoring data across aquatic environments and proposes lessons from international policy frameworks to strengthen Sri Lanka's response to microplastic contamination.

2024 Advances in Technology
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

Tracing the Plastic Tide: Assessing Microplastic Abundance and Distribution along the Attanagalu River in Sri Lanka

Researchers assessed the abundance and distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments along the Attanagalu River in Sri Lanka, identifying key pollution sources and transport pathways. The study found elevated microplastic concentrations linked to urban and agricultural land use, underscoring the role of freshwater systems in conveying terrestrial plastic pollution to the ocean.

2025
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

Microplastic pollution in Marine Protected Areas of Southern Sri Lanka

Microplastic contamination was documented in coastal and lagoon sediments and water within two Marine Protected Areas in southern Sri Lanka, indicating that even protected zones are not shielded from plastic pollution.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 88 citations
Article Tier 2

Does tourism enhance microplastic pollution in the ecologically critical areas of Bangladesh? Evidence from Tanguar Haor, Kaptai Lake, and the Sundarbans

Researchers assessed microplastic pollution at three prominent tourist destinations in Bangladesh—Tanguar Haor, Kaptai Lake, and the Sundarbans—finding 3–25 particles per liter, with PETE most common and contamination levels correlating with tourism activity and proximity to human pollution sources.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances
Article Tier 2

Investigating the knowledge, attitude and perception on microplastic pollution: a comparison between residents in Temerloh living in urban and rural areas

Researchers surveyed urban and rural residents of Temerloh, Malaysia, on their knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of microplastic pollution, finding gaps in awareness that contribute to poor waste management behaviours and ongoing environmental contamination.

2023 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Article Tier 2

Plastic waste and microplastic issues in Southeast Asia

This review examines the plastic waste and microplastic crisis across Southeast Asia, a region that contributes significantly to global ocean plastic pollution. The authors found that inadequate waste collection, limited recycling infrastructure, and rapid economic growth are driving the problem. The study evaluates current waste management systems and proposes strategies for improving plastic waste reduction in these countries.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Science 117 citations