Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Investigating a probable relationship between the distribution of microplastics and crab burrows in the intertidal zone of Chongming Island, Yangtze Estuary

Researchers investigated the relationship between crab burrow distribution and microplastic accumulation in intertidal sediments of Chongming Island, finding that crab bioturbation activity influenced the spatial distribution of microplastics, suggesting that benthic fauna behavior plays an underappreciated role in microplastic redistribution.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics and corresponding feeding habits of the dominant shrimps in the rivers of Chongming Island

Researchers investigated spatial-temporal distribution of microplastics in rivers and dominant shrimp species on Chongming Island, revealing correlations between microplastic contamination patterns and shrimp feeding habits.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in sediments of the Changjiang Estuary, China

Researchers sampled sediments in the Changjiang Estuary and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and polymer types reflecting inputs from the Yangtze River and coastal human activities.

2017 Environmental Pollution 774 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution characteristics of aged microplastics in the surface water, sediment, and crabs of the aquaculture pond in the Yangtze River Delta of China

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in crab aquaculture ponds in China, finding particles in the water, sediment, and crab tissues. The crabs' intestines contained the most microplastics, followed by gills and liver, and contamination levels increased with body weight. Since these crabs are raised for human consumption, the study shows that farmed seafood can be a direct source of microplastic exposure for people.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 81 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and translocation of microplastics in tissues of deposit-feeding crabs (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea) in Kochi estuary, Japan

More than half of 116 intertidal crabs collected from a Japanese estuary contained microplastics, with PET fragments dominating and particles concentrated primarily in the gut. Smaller deposit-feeding crab species carried a higher microplastic burden relative to body weight than larger omnivorous species, showing that feeding behavior and body size both shape how much plastic wildlife accumulates in contaminated estuaries.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in surface water and sediments of Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China

This study surveyed microplastic abundance and characteristics in surface water and sediments around Chongming Island in the Yangtze Estuary, China, finding widespread contamination with fibers and fragments dominating. The Yangtze Estuary serves as a major conduit for microplastics moving from freshwater to the marine environment.

2020 Environmental Sciences Europe 226 citations
Article Tier 2

High prevalence of plastic ingestion by Eriocheir sinensis and Carcinus maenas (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura) in the Thames Estuary

This study found high rates of microplastic ingestion by both native shore crabs and invasive Chinese mitten crabs in the Thames Estuary, with over 80% of individuals containing plastic particles. The ubiquity of microplastic ingestion in these crab species, including an invasive species rapidly spreading through European waterways, highlights the pervasive nature of plastic contamination in urban estuaries.

2020 Environmental Pollution 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution among estuarine sedimentary habitats utilized by intertidal crabs

This study mapped microplastic distribution across multiple sedimentary habitat types in an estuary to support spatially refined risk assessments for intertidal fauna. Results showed microplastic abundance varied significantly by habitat, with implications for species that rely on specific substrates.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and polymeric risk assessment of microplastic contamination in commercially important brachyuran crab Portunus sanguinolentus

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in a commercially important crab species from three fishing harbors in India and found plastics in every location sampled. The crabs contained an average of 0.67 microplastic particles per gram, with polyethylene and polystyrene among the most common types, and pollution levels rated as very high risk at all sites. Since these crabs are widely eaten, the findings suggest that seafood consumers may be regularly ingesting microplastics.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantification of microplastics in sympatric species with different ecological habits that inhabit a highly impacted area of Baixada Santista

Researchers quantified microplastic contamination in sediment, water, and tissues (gills, muscle, hepatopancreas, and digestive tract) of three sympatric mangrove crab species with different ecological habits in the highly impacted Baixada Santista estuary, Brazil. The study found microplastic accumulation across all sampled matrices and examined physiological effects in Goniopsis cruentata, Aratus pisonii, and Minuca rapax, demonstrating how feeding behavior and habitat use influence microplastic body burden in crustaceans.

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

Can fiddler crab bioturbation activity in situ modify the distribution of microplastics in sediments and the influence on their bioaccumulation?

Researchers examined fiddler crab (Minuca rapax) bioturbation in mangrove sediments of the southern Gulf of Mexico, finding that crab burrowing activity concentrated microplastics in burrow sediments and that the characteristics of microplastics ingested by the crabs reflected those found in burrows, with the degree of bioturbation-driven MP concentration varying with local urbanization levels.

2022
Article Tier 2

[Distribution and Settlement of Microplastics in the Surface Sediment of Yangtze Estuary].

Researchers found microplastics in surface sediments at six sites in China's Yangtze River estuary, with concentrations varying by location and season. The study documents significant plastic contamination in this major coastal zone, raising concerns about ecosystem health and entry of microplastics into the marine food web.

2018 PubMed 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution Characteristics of Microplastics in Surface Seawater off the Yangtze River Estuary Section and Analysis of Ecological Risk Assessment

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface seawater near the Yangtze River estuary across four seasons in 2017 and 2019. They found microplastics at all sampling stations, with abundance varying by season and influenced by river discharge and ocean currents. The study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution levels in this ecologically important estuarine region of China.

2023 Toxics 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Corpus Christi Bay blue crabs,Callinectes sapidus

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in blue crabs (Callinectes sapidus) from Corpus Christi Bay, Texas, finding microplastics in crab stomachs and identifying fragment and fiber morphologies associated with sediment ingestion during benthic foraging. The study documents microplastic exposure in a commercially and ecologically important estuarine crustacean in the Gulf of Mexico.

2020 Limnology and Oceanography Letters 78 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters, sediments, and wild crabs of mangrove ecosystems of East Java, Indonesia

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across ten mangrove ecosystems in East Java, Indonesia, finding microplastics in surface water, sediment, and wild crabs — with each crab containing an average of 48 plastic particles in its gills and digestive tract, more than 60% of which were fibers. The strong correlation between sediment contamination and microplastics found inside the crabs points to a pathway through which plastics enter the marine food web.

2024 Emerging contaminants 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics, influencing factors, and ecological risks of microplastics in the north branch tidal marshes of the Yangtze River estuary

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in tidal marshes at the Yangtze River estuary and found an average of about 507 particles per kilogram of sediment. The distribution was strongly influenced by salinity and vegetation type, with freshwater areas dominated by reeds containing more microplastics than saltwater zones. The study highlights how seawater intrusion and plant communities shape where microplastics accumulate in these ecologically sensitive coastal wetlands.

2025 Environmental Pollution 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrenceand characteristics of microplastics in benthic species from mangrove wetlands of Hainan, South China

Researchers found microplastics in 10 species of benthic organisms — including crabs, bivalves, and snails — across seven mangrove areas in Hainan, China, confirming that mangrove ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them are significantly contaminated by microplastic pollution.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic bioaccumulation in estuary-caught fishery resource

Researchers studied microplastic accumulation in fish and crustaceans from the Yangtze River estuary, finding that bottom-dwelling organisms and crustaceans accumulated significantly more microplastics than open-water fish. The study found that microplastics in fish accumulated in skin, gills, and internal organs rather than muscle tissue, with most particles being cellulose and polyethylene terephthalate fibers between 0.1 and 1 mm in length.

2022 Environmental Pollution 49 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Macroecotoxicological approaches to emerging patterns of microplastic bioaccumulation in crabs from estuarine and marine environments

Smaller, shorter-lived crabs and those from estuarine intertidal/muddy habitats accumulated significantly more microplastics, with burrowing species holding more particles than omnivorous ones. Crabs at lower latitudes -- likely due to mangrove trapping effects -- and non-human-consumed species showed higher microplastic loads, with colorless PA, PP, and PET fibers (1-5 mm) predominating.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 24 citations
Article Tier 2

The Ecological Implication of Microplastic in Crabs from a Tropical Lagoon: Ingested Microplastic in Mud Crab Scylla serrata

Researchers examined microplastic ingestion by crabs from a tropical lagoon in West Africa, quantifying particles found in digestive tissues and assessing ecological implications for the local ecosystem. Widespread microplastic ingestion was documented across crab species and size classes.

2024 Water 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Suspended microplastics in the surface water of the Yangtze Estuary System, China: First observations on occurrence, distribution

Researchers measured suspended microplastic concentrations in surface water across the Yangtze Estuary system in China, finding spatial gradients that reflected inputs from the Yangtze River and local coastal sources.

2014 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1035 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic load of benthic fauna in Jiaozhou Bay, China

This study quantified microplastic load in benthic fauna from Jiaozhou Bay in China, finding that multiple invertebrate species ingested microplastics with concentrations influenced by feeding mode, habitat depth, and proximity to human activity, helping clarify factors controlling microplastic distribution in marine benthos.

2023 Environmental Pollution 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic risk assessment in surface waters: A case study in the Changjiang Estuary, China

Researchers assessed microplastic risk in surface waters of the Changjiang Estuary, finding measurable contamination and identifying this major river delta as a significant source and pathway for microplastic transport into coastal marine environments.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 676 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in freshwater aquaculture area with different culture modes in Yangtze River Delta of China

Microplastics in freshwater crab aquaculture areas in the Yangtze River Delta peaked in September at 9.25 items/L in surface water, with concentrations following seasonal patterns driven by temperature, evaporation, and river recharge across different culture modes.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations