Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution in surface sediments along the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf

Researchers found microplastic contamination in coastal sediments along the Spanish Mediterranean continental shelf between Algeciras and Barcelona, with densities ranging from below detection limits to 1,380 particles per kilogram dry weight, predominantly fibers and fragments.

2019 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 103 citations
Article Tier 2

A large-scale investigation of microplastic contamination: Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in European beach sediment

This large-scale investigation characterized microplastic contamination across a wide geographic area, documenting abundance and polymer types and providing a baseline dataset for tracking pollution trends over time.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 450 citations
Article Tier 2

Dataset of quantification and classification of microplastics in Mexican sandy beaches

This dataset presents the first national survey of microplastic contamination on 35 Mexican beaches across five coastal regions. Microplastics were found at all beaches, with fragments and pellets being the most common types, providing baseline data for monitoring plastic pollution along Mexico's coasts.

2020 Data in Brief 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Effects of distance to the sea and geomorphological characteristics on the quantity and distribution of microplastics in beach sediments of Granada (Spain)

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution on three beaches along the Granada coast of Spain, examining how distance from the sea and geomorphological features influence microplastic quantity and polymer composition in beach sediments. The study establishes regional baseline contamination levels and identifies spatial distribution patterns relevant to national and EU marine pollution directives.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 64 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

Microplastics at the strandlines of Slovenian beaches

Researchers collected sediment samples from nine locations along the Slovenian Adriatic coast and found microplastics at all sites, with 11.3% of isolated particles confirmed as synthetic polymers by ATR-FTIR, dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene fragments and fibers.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence, Spatial Distribution, and Characteristics of Microplastics in Beach Sediments Along the Northwestern Moroccan Mediterranean Coast

Researchers surveyed fourteen beaches along the northwestern Moroccan Mediterranean coast and found microplastics in every sediment sample, averaging about 59 particles per kilogram of dry sand. Fibers were the dominant shape at nearly 78%, with tourism, fishing, and wastewater discharges identified as the most likely pollution sources. The findings indicate moderate but widespread microplastic contamination along this coastline.

2025 Water 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Beneath the water column: Uncovering microplastic pollution in the sublittoral coastal sediments of the Canary Islands, Spain

This study examined microplastic prevalence and distribution in sublittoral coastal sediments around the Canary Islands, Spain, sampling 26 locations to characterize both synthetic and cellulosic particle contamination. The results establish a baseline for microplastic pollution in this Atlantic archipelago.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 17 citations
Article Tier 2

From macro to micro: dataset on plastic contamination along and across a sandy tide-less coast (the Curonian Spit, the Baltic Sea)

This dataset documents the distribution and abundance of plastic litter across size classes — from macroplastic to microplastic — on beaches of the Curonian Spit UNESCO Reserve in the Baltic Sea. The data provide a baseline for tracking plastic pollution in a sensitive protected coastal environment.

2020 Data in Brief 20 citations
Article Tier 2

First full investigation of levels of microplastics on sandy beaches in Malta

This study conducted the first comprehensive survey of microplastic levels on sandy beaches in Malta, finding microplastics at all five sampled beaches including in protected coastal areas. The results establish baseline contamination levels for the central Mediterranean and document seasonal and spatial variability.

2017 OAR@UM (University of Malta) 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics levels, size, morphology and composition in marine water, sediments and sand beaches. Case study of Tarragona coast (western Mediterranean)

Researchers measured microplastic levels, sizes, shapes, and polymer types in coastal water, sediment, and beach sand along the Tarragona coast of the western Mediterranean, finding widespread contamination associated with nearby industrial facilities and a major petrochemical complex.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 123 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal variation and ecological risk assessment of microplastics along the touristic beaches of a mediterranean coast transect (Valencia province, East Spain)

Researchers sampled microplastics from seven tourist beaches along Spain's Valencia coast in both winter and summer and found contamination levels nearly five times higher during the summer tourism season. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic, and polyethylene and halogenated polystyrene from food packaging were the dominant polymers identified. The study raises questions about whether current beach cleaning practices are sufficient to address microplastic pollution.

2024 Journal of Environmental Management 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in sediments: a comparison within zones located worldwide with different impact

Researchers collected 25 sediment samples from six coastal areas worldwide spanning depths from 1 to 426 meters during 2022 and 2023 to compare microplastic abundance in zones with different levels of anthropogenic impact. They found a mean microplastic concentration of 308.81 items per kg dry weight across all sites, ranging from 20.79 items per kg in touristic Palma, Mallorca to 872.95 items per kg in the highly urbanized Ilha da Mare in Brazil, with fibers comprising approximately 95% of detected particles.

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

Assessment of microplastic abundance and impact on recreational beaches along the western Algerian coastline

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance on three recreational beaches along the western Algerian coastline. The study found an average of about 55 microplastic items per square meter, predominantly fragments, and used a pollution index to characterize contamination levels, contributing important baseline data for understanding plastic pollution along the understudied North African Mediterranean coast.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplásticos en tres playas del corredor turístico del norte, Piura, Perú

Researchers estimated the abundance, characteristics, and types of microplastics on three beaches along the northern tourist corridor of Piura, Peru, characterising the size, colour, and polymer types of particles found in beach sediments to assess contamination levels in this coastal region.

2025
Article Tier 2

Novel methodology approach for assessing microplastic distribution in marine habitats along the Spanish Western Mediterranean coast

Researchers developed an innovative integrative methodology to assess spatiotemporal variation in microplastic abundance across sea surface and sediment habitats along the Spanish Western Mediterranean coast from 2017 to 2024, characterising distribution patterns at multiple spatial scales.

2025 The Science of The Total Environment
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in marine sediments along the Belgian coast

Researchers surveyed marine sediments along the Belgian coast and found microplastics distributed across all sampled sites, documenting their occurrence and characteristics in this heavily trafficked North Sea coastal environment.

2011 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1391 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Sediments from a Sandy Beach in Costa Nova (Aveiro, Portugal)

Researchers collected and characterized microplastics from sediments at a sandy beach in Costa Nova, Portugal, finding a variety of polymer types and particle shapes. The study documents microplastic accumulation in a European Atlantic coastal environment and provides baseline contamination data.

2023 Sustainability 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on sandy beaches of the Baja California Peninsula, Mexico

Microplastics were found on all 21 sandy beach sites surveyed along the Baja California Peninsula in Mexico, with pellets and fragments as the dominant types and higher concentrations near urban areas. The study provides baseline data on microplastic contamination along a lengthy stretch of Mexican Pacific coastline largely lacking previous environmental monitoring.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 181 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in tourist beaches of Huatulco Bay, Pacific coast of southern Mexico

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastics on tourist beaches in Huatulco Bay, Mexico, collecting 70 sediment samples across two seasons and finding fibrous microplastics at all sampled beaches, with the highest counts linked to tourism activity and hotel and restaurant effluent discharge.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 162 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in sublittoral coastal sediments of a North Atlantic island: The case of La Palma (Canary Islands, Spain)

Researchers found microplastic contamination in sublittoral coastal sediments at 5-7 m depth around La Palma island in the Canary Islands, with concentration varying by sampling location and depth within sediment cores.

2021 Chemosphere 40 citations
Article Tier 2

Beached microplastics in barcelonas shorelines

Researchers surveyed beached microplastics along Barcelona's shorelines to characterize the types, abundance, and distribution of plastic particles accumulating on urban Mediterranean beaches, contributing data to the growing body of evidence on coastal microplastic pollution in densely populated areas.

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

A baseline assessment of the relationship between microplastics and plasticizers in sediment samples collected from the Barcelona continental shelf

Researchers conducted a baseline assessment of microplastics and phthalate plasticizers in sediments of the Barcelona continental shelf, finding co-occurrence across all sampling stations and providing early evidence of the relationship between plastic debris and associated chemical contaminants in seafloor environments.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and macro-plastics in beach sediment of the Algerian western coast: First data on distribution, characterization, and source

Researchers conducted the first survey of micro- and macro-plastic pollution on nine beaches along 124 km of Algeria's western coast, finding plastic concentrations varying from 7.6 to 66 items/m2 with fragments dominating at 83% and pellets comprising nearly 15% of microplastics.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 35 citations