Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastics and floating litter pollution in Bulgarian Black Sea coastal waters

Researchers conducted a pilot study of floating marine litter and microplastics along the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, finding high quantities of floating litter (60.3-93.8 items per km) and microplastic concentrations of 0.114 to 1.91 x 10 items per km. Concentrations were on average lower than in other parts of the Black Sea, Baltic Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, though observed ranges were comparable.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 70 citations
Article Tier 2

High microplastic pollution in marine sediments associated with urbanised areas along the SW Bulgarian Black Sea coast

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in beach and seabed sediments along the southwestern Bulgarian Black Sea coast. Urbanized coastal areas had significantly higher microplastic levels than non-urbanized areas, with seabed samples averaging over 800 particles per kilogram of dry sediment. The study identified sewage discharges, urban waste, fisheries, and marine litter accumulation as likely sources of the contamination.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution on the Beaches of the Black Sea in Romania and Bulgaria

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution on beaches along the Black Sea coast in Romania and Bulgaria, finding microplastics at all sampled sites with fragment and fiber morphologies predominating and higher concentrations near tourist and urban areas.

2025 Applied Sciences 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The assessment of the bioaccumulation of microplastics in key fish species from the Bulgarian aquatory of the Black Sea

Researchers examined five commercially important fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast and found microplastics in all tissue types studied. The most common particles were polyethylene and PET pellets, with sizes ranging down to 25 micrometers, indicating widespread plastic pollution in this region that could affect both fish populations and the humans who eat them.

2024 BIORISK – Biodiversity and Ecosystem Risk Assessment 9 citations
Review Tier 2

Comprehensive Review regarding the Profile of the Microplastic Pollution in the Coastal Area of the Black Sea

This literature review profiled microplastic pollution across the Black Sea, summarizing contamination levels in water, sediment, and seafood consumed by coastal populations. The Black Sea's unique hydrodynamics and heavy riverine inputs create hotspots for microplastic accumulation, with seafood contamination posing direct human exposure concerns.

2022 Sustainability 49 citations
Article Tier 2

The Assessment of the Bioaccumulation of Microplastics in Key Fish Species from the Bulgarian Aquatory of the Black Sea

Researchers found microplastics in the soft tissues of five commercially important Black Sea fish species collected off the Bulgarian coast, with polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate as the dominant polymer types. Pellets were the most common particle shape, found across all specimens regardless of species. The results indicate significant microplastic contamination in a major regional seafood source, raising concerns about the potential for plastics to move up the food chain and reach people who consume these fish.

2023 Preprints.org 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in coastal waters and aquatic faunas of the Western Black Sea

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence in coastal waters and aquatic fauna of the Western Black Sea region receiving Danube River inputs, characterizing MP distributions in a coastal ecosystem under pressure from tourism, fishing, regional conflicts, and inadequate waste disposal across the Danube basin.

2024
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in commercial fish and their habitats in the important fishing ground of the Black Sea: Characteristic, concentration, and risk assessment

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in six commercial fish species from the Black Sea and found microplastics in all environmental areas studied, including surface water, the water column, sediments, and fish. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, and bottom-dwelling fish had higher contamination levels than fish living closer to the surface. Since these are commonly eaten fish species, the findings are relevant to human dietary exposure to microplastics.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Research and Analysis of Pollution Indicators in Marine and Coastal Ecosystems along the Southern Black Sea Coast

Researchers conducted monthly in situ measurements and laboratory analyses at nine sites across Burgas Lake, the Karaagach River mouth, and Burgas Bay along the Southern Black Sea coast during 2022-2023, performing the first quantitative microplastic analysis in the region alongside toxic metal measurements to assess ecosystem pollution status.

2025 Bulgarian Portal for Open Science
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution Profile in the Black Sea Region

Researchers reviewed 100 peer-reviewed articles to create a comprehensive pollution profile of microplastics in the Black Sea region. They found that microplastics have been documented across multiple environmental compartments in the region, with plastic products from various industrial sectors contributing to contamination. The review provides an overview of the current state of knowledge on microplastic distribution and sources specific to this ecologically important semi-enclosed sea.

2024 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination and characteristics spatially vary in the southern Black Sea beach sediment and sea surface water

Microplastic abundance and characteristics were assessed along the southern Black Sea coastline, finding that over 70% of particles were smaller than 2.5 mm, with average concentrations of 64 particles/kg in beach sediment and 18.68 particles/m3 in seawater, and the Marmara region showing highest pollution.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 95 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and Uptake of Microplastics in Key Species of the Bulgarian Black Sea Ecosystem and Their Effects from a Stress Ecology Viewpoint

Microplastic accumulation and associated oxidative stress responses were measured in six invertebrate and three fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, finding species-specific bioaccumulation patterns and elevated antioxidant enzyme activity in contaminated organisms.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Quantitative and qualitative evaluation of plastic particles in surface waters of the Western Black Sea

Researchers collected surface water samples from the Western Black Sea near the Danube Delta and Romanian shore, finding micro-, meso-, and macroplastic particles that may contribute significantly to Mediterranean marine pollution via the connecting waterway. Organic matter was digested and plastic particles were isolated and characterised to quantify and identify the polymer types present.

2020 Environmental Pollution 67 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Bioaccumulation and Oxidative Stress in Key Species of the Bulgarian Black Sea: Ecosystem Risk Early Warning

Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation and oxidative stress in invertebrate and fish species from the Bulgarian Black Sea coast. They found species-specific patterns of microplastic bioaccumulation, with the highest concentrations in certain shrimp and fish species, and a significant correlation between microplastic levels and catalase enzyme activity. The findings serve as an early warning of ecosystem-level risks from microplastic pollution in the Black Sea.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination of the Seawater in the Hamsilos Bay of the Southern Black Sea

Researchers monitored microplastic contamination in the water column of Hamsilos Bay, a protected natural area on the Black Sea coast of Turkey, over 12 months. They found microplastics at all sampling stations, with fibers being the dominant type and polyethylene terephthalate the most common polymer identified. The study demonstrates that even protected coastal areas are not immune to microplastic pollution and provides important baseline data for this ecologically sensitive region.

2024 Water Air & Soil Pollution 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Black Sea sediments

Microplastics in Black Sea sediments were characterized by occurrence, morphology, and polymer type for the first time, using samples collected across a depth range of 22 to 2131 meters. The study tested a non-invasive filtration method and found microplastics across the sampled depth range, demonstrating vertical distribution of plastic pollution in the Black Sea.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 174 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics by commercial fish species from the southern Black Sea coast

Three commercial fish species from the Turkish Black Sea coast -- European anchovy, whiting, and red mullet -- were examined for microplastic ingestion, with plastics found in all three species and fibers being the dominant type. The study adds to regional evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread in commercially harvested Black Sea fish.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the Microplastics Distribution in the Bottom Sediments of the Western Black Sea

Researchers surveyed the bottom sediments of the western Black Sea and found microplastic particles at every sampling site, with fibers the most common shape and polyethylene/polypropylene the most common polymer types. The widespread presence across the shelf zone, without a clear pattern tied to distance from shore, suggests diffuse anthropogenic inputs rather than a single point source — a finding that complicates clean-up and monitoring efforts for this semi-enclosed sea.

2024 Visnyk of Taras Shevchenko National University of Kyiv Geology 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic Occurrence in Commercial Fish Species of the Black Sea

Researchers examined plastic ingestion in seven commercial fish species from the Black Sea and found plastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of 29% of all individuals tested. Fibres were the most common type of plastic found, accounting for nearly 69% of all particles, with 93% being microplastics smaller than 5 mm. The study identified polypropylene, polyester, and acrylic as the most prevalent polymer types, indicating widespread microplastic contamination in Black Sea commercial fisheries.

2021 Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 57 citations
Article Tier 2

ASSESSMENT OF THE BIOACCUMULATION OF MICROPLASTICS IN THE BLACK SEA MUSSEL Mytilus galloprovincialis L., 1819

Researchers examined microplastic accumulation in the Black Sea mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis collected from multiple sites along the Bulgarian coast. Microplastics were detected in all samples with fragment and fiber morphologies dominant, and differences in abundance were observed between sampling locations linked to proximity to human activities.

2022 Journal of IMAB - Annual Proceeding (Scientific Papers) 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Current status and comparative risk assessment of microplastic pollution in surface water and sediment from the Black Sea coastline using geospatial analysis

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive microplastic survey of Turkey's Black Sea coast, documenting a roughly 78% annual increase in surface water particle concentrations and a threefold rise at some sediment stations, with fibers and high-risk polymers like PET and PVC dominating both matrices and most sites rated high ecological risk.

2026 Journal of Hazardous Materials
Article Tier 2

First evaluation of neustonic microplastics in Black Sea waters

Researchers reported the first assessment of neustonic microplastics in Black Sea waters, finding microplastics in 92% of samples collected during two cruises, with fibers most abundant (49%), average concentrations around 1,200 particles per m3 in November, and spatial distribution patterns linked to wind dynamics and the rim current.

2016 Marine Environmental Research 192 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and temporal trends of microplastics in the coastal area in the Southern Black Sea over the past decade

Researchers investigated microplastic abundance, polymer types, and size distributions in seawater at three distances from the southeastern Black Sea coast over a decade (2009-2020). Polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate dominated at 44.9% and 25.3% respectively, with fragment shapes most common, and no significant spatiotemporal changes in abundance were detected.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 45 citations
Article Tier 2

CURRENT SITUATION OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN THE BLACK SEA (TÜRKİYE) WHITING (Merlangius merlangus)

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in Black Sea whiting (Merlangius merlangus) caught in Turkish waters, characterizing the abundance, types, and polymer composition of ingested microplastics in this commercially important fish. The findings contribute to understanding microplastic pollution levels in Black Sea fisheries and associated ecological risks.

2025 Ataturk University - AVESIS