Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Exploring microplastic contamination in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis): Insights into plastic pollution in the southwestern tropical Atlantic

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) stranded along the southwestern tropical Atlantic coast by analyzing stomach contents. The study found that most individuals were contaminated with microplastics, with polyurethane, PET, and EVA being the most common polymers, underscoring the widespread nature of plastic pollution in marine food webs.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Pelagic microplastics around an archipelago of the Equatorial Atlantic

Researchers surveyed pelagic microplastic abundance around the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Archipelago in the Equatorial Atlantic, documenting the presence of microplastics at a remote mid-ocean location far from major urban centers. The findings extend the known geographic distribution of marine microplastic pollution to equatorial Atlantic waters and suggest widespread oceanic transport from distant sources.

2013 Marine Pollution Bulletin 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of Marine Plastic Pollution From Continental Coasts to Subtropical Gyres—Fish, Seabirds, and Other Vertebrates in the SE Pacific

A review of anthropogenic marine debris in the Southeast Pacific found that most plastic pollution along continental coasts originated from local land-based sources, with fish, seabirds, and sea turtles all documented as ingesting or becoming entangled in debris. The study highlights the need for regional waste management improvements to protect SE Pacific vertebrate populations from plastic pollution.

2018 Frontiers in Marine Science 256 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution of microplastics in the surface layer of the Atlantic Ocean from the subtropics to the equator according to visual analysis

This study measured plastic particle contamination in Atlantic Ocean surface water from subtropical to equatorial latitudes, finding microplastics at nearly every sampling site. The results reinforce that microplastic pollution is pervasive throughout the open ocean, far from coastal pollution sources.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine litter arrived: Distribution and potential sources on an unpopulated atoll in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, Caribbean Sea

Even on an uninhabited atoll in the Caribbean, plastic litter dominated marine debris, with most items likely arriving from sea-based sources such as fishing vessels. This finding shows that remote, undeveloped locations are not immune to plastic pollution carried by ocean currents.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Interactions between marine megafauna and plastic pollution in Southeast Asia

Researchers reviewed published cases of marine megafauna — including sharks, dolphins, sea turtles, and seabirds — entangled in or having ingested plastics across Southeast Asia, a region that contributes roughly a third of global marine plastic pollution. Despite the scale of the problem, scientific documentation of plastic impacts on wildlife in the region remains far behind other parts of the world, highlighting a critical data gap.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the hidden threat of microplastics to coral reefs in remote South Atlantic islands

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination of coral reefs on remote South Atlantic islands, finding widespread microplastic presence in reef environments and raising concerns about the physiological and ecological harm to coral ecosystems far from human population centers.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion ubiquitous in marine turtles

Researchers examined over 100 marine turtles across all seven species and found synthetic particles in every single individual tested. The study suggests that microplastic ingestion is ubiquitous across marine turtle species, regardless of geographic location or life stage, raising broad concerns about plastic contamination in large marine vertebrates.

2018 Global Change Biology 309 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in large marine animals stranded in the Republic of Korea

Researchers analyzed microplastics in the digestive tracts of 12 stranded marine animals in South Korea, including whales, porpoises, dolphins, and sea turtles, detecting microplastic contamination across all species examined between 2019 and 2021.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the sources of marine litter in remote islands: The Galapagos islands as a case study

Researchers tracked plastic bottle litter on 60 remote beaches across the Galapagos Islands from 2018 to 2022 to determine where marine debris originates. The study found that 76% of beaches were badly polluted, with bottles traced to sources in Asia, South America, and Central America, demonstrating how ocean currents carry plastic waste thousands of miles to even the most isolated island ecosystems.

2024 Environmental Pollution 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Pollution affects even oceanic marine protected areas in Southwestern Atlantic

Researchers found plastic pollution including microplastics in oceanic marine protected areas in the Southwestern Atlantic, demonstrating that protected status does not shield even remote open-ocean sites from contamination. The findings argue for pollution source control rather than reliance on protected areas alone.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and characterization of plastic debris in the gastrointestinal tract of Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from Espírito Santo coast, Brazil

This study identified and characterized macro, meso, and microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of 12 Guiana dolphins (Sotalia guianensis) from southern Brazil. Plastic debris was detected in the majority of animals, with fibers and fragments as dominant types, highlighting the threat of plastic pollution to this vulnerable cetacean species.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Charismatic Species as Indicators of Plastic Pollution in the Río de la Plata Estuarine Area, SW Atlantic

Researchers examined sea turtles, marine mammals, and seabirds in the Río de la Plata estuary as indicator species for plastic pollution, finding evidence of plastic ingestion and entanglement across all three groups. These charismatic species can serve as early warning systems for the extent of marine plastic pollution in South Atlantic coastal areas. Monitoring plastic exposure in these animals provides data relevant to understanding plastic loads in waters also used for fishing and recreation.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in distal sediments from the mouth of the Amazon River

Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of microplastic distribution in distal marine sediments near the mouth of the Amazon River, examining how the Amazon plume — a major source of plastic additives in the tropical North Atlantic — contributes to regional microplastic deposition patterns.

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

Plastic pollution in islands of the Atlantic Ocean

A survey of plastic pollution on beaches of Atlantic Ocean islands from the Azores to Tristan da Cunha found microplastics and macroplastics at all locations, with composition suggesting origin from both local and long-distance ocean transport. The findings confirm that even remote Atlantic islands serve as sinks for globally circulating plastic debris.

2018 Environmental Pollution 225 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in distal sediments from the mouth of the Amazon River

Researchers conducted a preliminary assessment of microplastic distribution in distal sediments from the mouth of the Amazon River, motivated by prior evidence that the Amazon plume is the largest source of organic plastic additives in the tropical North Atlantic region.

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

Los mamíferos marinos y la contaminación por plásticos

This review examines the growing evidence of plastic pollution impacts on marine mammals, describing how entanglement, ingestion, and chemical exposure from plastic debris affect some of the most exposed megafauna groups in the world's oceans.

2025 Therya ixmana
Article Tier 2

Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia

This study quantified both macro- and microplastic pollution on the coral reef of Mo'orea in French Polynesia, finding plastic at every sampled beach and in reef sediments. The research demonstrates that even remote Pacific island coral reefs receive significant plastic contamination from oceanic gyres and local sources.

2017 PeerJ 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in seawater and marine organisms across the Tropical Eastern Pacific and Galápagos

Researchers sampled water and seafood across 453,000 square kilometers of the Tropical Eastern Pacific and Galápagos Islands, finding microplastics in 100% of water samples and in every species of fish, squid, and shrimp collected. This confirms that microplastic contamination is pervasive even in remote ocean regions, raising concerns for both marine ecosystems and human food safety.

2021 Scientific Reports 288 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in coastal and marine environments of the western tropical and sub-tropical Atlantic Ocean

Microplastics were documented throughout coastal and marine environments across the western tropical and subtropical Atlantic Ocean, including both surface waters and sediments. The review confirms that plastic pollution has spread widely through this large and ecologically important ocean region, with uncertain but potentially significant consequences for marine life and human communities.

2015 Environmental Science Processes & Impacts 93 citations
Article Tier 2

From prey to predators: Evidence of microplastic trophic transfer in tuna and large pelagic species in the southwestern Tropical Atlantic

Researchers found evidence of microplastic trophic transfer from prey to tuna and large pelagic predators in the southwestern Tropical Atlantic, demonstrating that plastic contamination moves through marine food chains to economically important fish species.

2023 Environmental Pollution 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Overview of global status of plastic presence in marine vertebrates

A review of 112 studies on plastic ingestion by marine vertebrates (sea turtles, cetaceans, fish) found widespread occurrence across species and ocean regions, with methodological inconsistencies preventing reliable global comparisons and underscoring the need for standardized protocols.

2020 Global Change Biology 118 citations
Article Tier 2

A non-invasive method of microplastics pollution quantification in green sea turtle Chelonia mydas of the Mexican Caribbean

Researchers used a non-invasive method of analyzing green sea turtle feces to measure microplastic contamination near the Caribbean coast of Mexico, finding between 10 and 89 microplastic particles per gram. Fibers were the most common type, made of nylon, PVC, polypropylene, and polyester. The study shows that even marine wildlife in relatively remote areas is exposed to significant microplastic pollution, and provides a way to monitor contamination without harming the animals.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic contamination of a Galapagos Island (Ecuador) and the relative risks to native marine species

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of plastic contamination across the marine ecosystem of a Galapagos island — covering beaches, water, sediment, and invertebrates — and found widespread contamination including in native species, identifying dominant sources and risk levels for key marine animals.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 111 citations