Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Verification of the existence of copper-based antifouling paint particles in the sea and their implications for marine microplastic degradation

Researchers collected marine debris near Nagasaki, Japan, and found copper-based antifouling paint particles alongside conventional microplastics at several sampling stations. These copper-based particles differ in chemical composition from typical plastic debris and may influence surrounding microplastic degradation patterns. The co-occurrence raises new questions about combined effects of paint particles and microplastics in marine environments.

2023 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Co-occurrence of microplastics and microparticles containing Cu and Zn and other heavy metals in sea-surface microlayer in Osaka Bay, Japan

Researchers analyzed tiny particles floating on the sea surface in Osaka Bay, Japan, and found microplastics containing heavy metals like copper and zinc from ship antifouling paints. Most of these metal-laden particles were made of acrylic resins commonly used in marine coatings, carrying copper concentrations up to 54,000 mg/kg. The study reveals that antifouling paint fragments are a significant and underrecognized source of toxic metal-containing microplastics in coastal waters.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Effect of Copper Antifouling Paint on Marine Degradation of Polypropylene: Uneven Distribution of Microdebris between Nagasaki Port and Goto Island, Japan

Researchers characterised marine microdebris including microplastics and copper-based paint particles collected at five stations between Nagasaki Port and Goto Island, Japan, then prepared polypropylene samples containing cuprous oxide and studied their accelerated marine degradation using sulfate ion radical initiation to clarify interactions between antifouling paint and microplastic breakdown.

2024 Molecules
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics from antifouling coatings released under controlled conditions with an automated SEM-EDX particle analysis method

Researchers demonstrated that antifouling coatings on boat hulls release microplastic particles into seawater during normal sailing conditions, with most particles between 1 and 5 micrometers in size. These particles contain both plastic binder material and toxic metals like copper and zinc used as biocides. This study reveals an often-overlooked source of microplastic pollution in the ocean, where the released particles carry both plastic and heavy metal contamination into marine ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Pollution 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and chemical characteristics of microplastic paint flakes in the North Atlantic Ocean

Non-fibrous microplastics captured by the Continuous Plankton Recorder across the North Atlantic included paint flakes as a significant component, with chemical analysis confirming alkyd and epoxy coatings from ship hulls as the source, representing an underappreciated but globally distributed plastic pollution type.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental pollution with antifouling paint particles: Distribution, ecotoxicology, and sustainable alternatives

This review examines antifouling paint particles as a type of microplastic pollution loaded with toxic biocidal compounds in the marine environment. Researchers found that these particles are mainly concentrated around boatyards and port areas and contribute significantly to overall microplastic pollution, while also discussing recent advances in nontoxic, biobased antifouling alternatives.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 70 citations
Article Tier 2

Understanding the potential release of microplastics from coatings used on commercial ships

This review examined how polymer-based paints applied to commercial ships contribute to ocean microplastic pollution. The study found that anticorrosive and antifouling coatings shed plastic particles through normal weathering and in-water hull cleaning, with the extent of release depending on coating type, condition, and maintenance practices.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Mass Concentrations and Distribution in German Bight Waters by Pyrolysis–Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry/Thermochemolysis Reveal Potential Impact of Marine Coatings: Do Ships Leave Skid Marks?

A mass-based Py-GC/MS survey of microplastics in the German Bight (North Sea) found highly variable concentrations (2–1396 µg/m³) influenced by oceanographic conditions, with coastal samples showing packaging waste signatures and central areas revealing an unexpected signal consistent with marine antifouling paint.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 135 citations
Article Tier 2

Seawater copper content controls biofilm bioaccumulation and microbial community on microplastics

Researchers found that seawater copper concentration controls both the microbial community composition of biofilms on microplastics and the amount of copper bioaccumulated in those biofilms, demonstrating that metal pollution levels in seawater influence the ecological and chemical behavior of the 'plastisphere'.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

The potential release of microplastics from paint fragments: Characterizing sources, occurrence and ecological impacts

This review examines paint fragments as a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic pollution, coming from deteriorating building coatings, road markings, and ship hulls. Beyond the plastic particles themselves, paint fragments can release toxic biocides and heavy metals that harm aquatic and terrestrial organisms. The findings highlight paint as a source of microplastics that people may encounter through water, air, and food, but which receives far less attention than packaging or textile sources.

2025 Environmental Geochemistry and Health 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Paint: a ubiquitous yet disregarded piece of the microplastics puzzle

This review found that microplastics from paint and coatings are a largely overlooked but major source of plastic pollution, with concentrations reaching up to 290,000 particles per kilogram of sediment near painted surfaces. Paint microplastics come from buildings, cars, boats, and industrial infrastructure. Of the toxic effects tested, 66% showed significant harm to organisms, particularly from antifouling paints, yet very few studies have examined this pollution source.

2025 Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Paint particles in the marine environment: An overlooked component of microplastics

Researchers highlight that paint particles, which consist of polymers combined with additives, are frequently overlooked or misclassified in studies of marine microplastic pollution. They found that paint fragments from ships, buildings, and infrastructure represent a significant but underreported source of microplastic contamination in ocean environments. The study calls for paint particles to be consistently included in marine debris monitoring to provide a more accurate picture of plastic pollution.

2021 Water Research X 202 citations
Article Tier 2

Environmental micropaint: a primary review of sampling techniques and analytical approaches

This review synthesizes findings from 74 studies on micropaint particles, a class of environmental contaminants distinct from conventional microplastics that originate from degradation of coated surfaces and antifouling paints, and are enriched with heavy metals and biocidal additives. The authors identify critical gaps in standardized sampling protocols, analytical methods for differentiating micropaints from microplastics, and knowledge of their ecotoxicological effects particularly in coastal zones.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment
Article Tier 2

Qualitative and quantitative assessment of microplastics derived from antifouling paint in effluent from ship hull hydroblasting and their emission into the marine environment

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination generated during ship hull hydroblasting, a common maintenance procedure. They found that a single vessel produced billions of paint-derived particles, with the vast majority smaller than 5 millimeters and composed primarily of acrylic polymers. The study identifies ship maintenance activities as a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic emissions into marine environments.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Paint fragments as polluting microplastics: A brief review

This brief review synthesized current knowledge on paint fragments as a significant but frequently overlooked source of microplastic pollution in the ocean. Paint particles contain diverse polymers including polyurethanes, polyesters, and epoxies, and are often excluded from microplastic audits despite their prevalence in marine environments.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 217 citations
Article Tier 2

Methods for the detection and characterization of boat paint microplastics in the marine environment

This study developed and evaluated analytical methods for detecting and characterizing boat paint microplastics in the marine environment, addressing a largely overlooked source of plastic pollution from antifouling and decorative coatings that enter seawater through normal boat use.

2023 Frontiers in Environmental Chemistry 26 citations
Article Tier 2

Biofilm enhances the copper (II) adsorption on microplastic surfaces in coastal seawater: Simultaneous evidence from visualization and quantification

Researchers found that biofilm formation on microplastic surfaces significantly enhanced copper adsorption in coastal seawater, with visual and quantitative evidence showing that biofilm-coated microplastics accumulate substantially more copper than uncoated particles, increasing their potential as vectors for metal contaminant transport.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 27 citations
Article Tier 2

Increased Cu(II) Adsorption Onto UV-Aged Polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polyethylene Terephthalate Microplastic Particles in Seawater

Researchers found that UV aging significantly increased copper(II) adsorption onto polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate microplastics in seawater by up to 2.92 times after 12 months, with oxidation-induced surface changes and smaller particle sizes amplifying this effect for PP and PET.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 35 citations
Article Tier 2

Copper Adsorption to Microplastics and Natural Particles in Seawater: A Comparison of Kinetics, Isotherms, and Bioavailability

Researchers compared copper adsorption onto pristine and aged microplastics versus natural particles like algae and sediments in seawater, finding that natural particles generally had higher metal-sequestering capacity, challenging the emphasis on microplastics as dominant metal-transport vectors.

2021 Environmental Science & Technology 132 citations
Article Tier 2

Critical review of analytical methods for antifouling paint particles in marine systems

This review critically examines the sources, sampling strategies, and analytical methods used to detect and quantify antifouling paint particles in marine environments. Researchers found that while recent studies have begun characterizing these particles, the methods used lack standardization and consistency. The study calls for the development of harmonized protocols to better assess the environmental prevalence and toxicity of paint-derived microparticles in the ocean.

2026 TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry
Article Tier 2

Towards a Comprehensive Understanding of Microplastics and Antifouling Paint Particles from Ship-Hull Derusting Wastewater and Their Emissions into the Marine Environment

Researchers conducted a systematic analysis of microplastics and antifouling paint particles found in wastewater from ship hull cleaning operations. They found that both types of particles are released in significant quantities during derusting, with antifouling particles being particularly toxic due to their high metal and biocide content. The study highlights ship maintenance activities as an important but often overlooked source of marine microplastic and toxic particle pollution.

2026 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatio-temporal characterization of paint-related debris as a source of metals in high maritime traffic and maintenance areas from the SW Atlantic coast.

Researchers examined paint debris and associated metal pollution in subtidal sediments at a Southwestern Atlantic port, finding that paint microparticles near vessel maintenance areas contained elevated concentrations of metals including copper, zinc, and lead, with seasonal variation linked to maintenance activity cycles.

2026 Marine pollution bulletin
Article Tier 2

Paint particle pollution in aquatic environments: Current advances and analytical challenges

This review highlights paint particles as an overlooked but significant source of microplastic pollution in water environments, originating from marine vessels, buildings, and industrial activities. Paint particles carry toxic chemicals including heavy metals and biocides that can leach into water and accumulate in marine organisms, posing risks to both ecosystems and human health through seafood consumption.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropogenic Microparticles in Sea-Surface Microlayer in Osaka Bay, Japan

Microplastics measured in the sea-surface microlayer of Osaka Bay were 16 times more concentrated than in water one meter below, and an unusual finding was that a single polymer type — polymethyl methacrylate from antifouling marine paints — dominated the samples. This points to ship traffic as a major and underappreciated local source of microplastic pollution in busy port environments.

2023 Journal of Xenobiotics 9 citations