Papers

61,005 results
|
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in the surface waters of the Baltic Sea and the Gulf of Riga

Microplastic abundance and composition were compared between the Gulf of Riga and the Eastern Gotland Basin of the Baltic Sea, with higher concentrations in the Gulf of Riga near river mouths and urban coasts, and polypropylene and polyethylene dominating the polymer composition at most sites.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 50 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Dataset on microplastic concentrations, characteristics, and chemical composition in the marine surface waters of Latvia – the Eastern Gotland basin and the Gulf of Riga

Spectroscopically verified microplastics, both particles and fibers, were found across 44 surface water samples from the Gulf of Riga and Eastern Gotland Basin in the Baltic Sea. The dataset provides polymer-type-confirmed contamination data useful for meta-analysis and microplastic flow calculations in the region.

2023 Data in Brief 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and removal efficiency of microplastics at secondary wastewater treatment plant in Lithuania

A three-month study at a Lithuanian secondary wastewater treatment plant found microplastics at every stage of treatment, with the plant removing a substantial portion but still releasing significant quantities to the environment. Fiber was the most common shape, and the data help fill a geographic gap for northeastern Europe, where microplastic monitoring in wastewater systems has been limited.

2023 Water Environment Research 10 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of tourism on microplastic pollution amount in Baltic Sea Region lakes

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments from 10 lakes in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland across spring, summer, and autumn 2023, finding that tourism pressure in lake catchment areas correlates with elevated microplastic contamination levels.

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

Microplastics in Harbour Seawaters: A Case Study in the Port of Gdynia, Baltic Sea

Microplastics were measured in five basins of the Port of Gdynia in the Baltic Sea across four seasons, finding concentrations of 0.082-0.524 mg per cubic meter, with polyolefins dominant and fragments and fibres the most common shapes in harbour surface waters.

2023 Sustainability 21 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic contamination of sandy beaches along the southern Baltic – a one season field survey results

Researchers surveyed microplastic and macroplastic contamination along the Polish Baltic Sea coast, finding microplastic concentrations of 118–1,382 pieces/kg in beach sand and 0.61–2.76 pieces/dm3 in coastal waters, with sub-1 mm blue fibers dominating across all sites and suggesting a common fibrous source throughout the Polish coastal zone.

2022 Oceanologia 16 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution of the Vistula Lagoon and Baltic Sea: A comparison study

Researchers compared microplastic levels in the Vistula Lagoon and the nearby Baltic Sea, finding higher concentrations in the more enclosed lagoon where particles accumulate rather than dispersing. Fibers were the dominant type in both locations, with notably longer fibers trapped in the lagoon, establishing a first baseline for plastic pollution in this understudied region.

2025 Environmental Pollution and Management 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatiotemporal Variability of Microplastics in the Eastern Baltic Sea

Researchers documented spatiotemporal variability of microplastics in the eastern Baltic Sea over five years, finding concentrations ranging from 0.01 to 2.45 particles per cubic meter with patterns linked to proximity to urban areas and riverine inputs.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Research progresses of microplastic pollution in freshwater systems

This review examines the widespread presence of microplastics in freshwater systems around the world, finding concentrations that vary by several orders of magnitude across different regions. Researchers identified fibers as the most common shape, with polypropylene and polyethylene as the dominant polymer types, primarily originating from human activities like sewage discharge. The study highlights concerns about microplastic contamination in drinking water and its potential effects on aquatic organisms.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 146 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in the German aquatic environment: Existence, interactions and research needs

This review examines microplastic pollution in German waterways and wastewater treatment plants, finding concentrations as high as 11,050 particles per liter in rivers. Fibers were the most common shape, and polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene were the dominant polymer types, mostly coming from municipal and industrial wastewater. The authors highlight that despite being Europe's largest economy, Germany has surprisingly limited research on this issue and call for standardized measurement methods.

2024 Environmental Engineering Research 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The effect of tourism on microplastic pollution amount in Baltic Sea Region lakes

Researchers measured microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments from 10 lakes in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland across spring, summer, and autumn 2023, investigating whether tourism pressure in lake catchment areas correlates with microplastic contamination levels. They found microplastics in all samples, with surface water concentrations ranging from 0.56 to 38.53 particles per cubic meter depending on country and season, and observed that lakes with higher tourist activity tended to show elevated microplastic loads.

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

Prevalence of Microplastic Pollution in Freshwater Ecosystem: A Case Study of Thal Canal

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in a freshwater ecosystem in a case study region, measuring particle concentrations and types in water and sediment samples across multiple sites. Microplastics were detected at all sampling locations with higher concentrations near urban areas, and fibres and fragments were the dominant particle morphologies found.

2024 Proceedings of the Pakistan Academy of Sciences B Life and Environmental Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

The first report on the occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Baltic Sea (Poland)

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive study of microplastic contamination in both seawater and commercial fish species from the Baltic Sea, collecting surface and water-column samples from multiple sub-regions and examining fish caught as bycatch of Baltic herring, finding microplastics were detected in 100% of fish examined.

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

Occurrence and analysis of microplastics in municipal wastewater, Poland

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in the influent of a large urban wastewater treatment plant in Poland and found an average of about 4 particles per liter. Textile fibers, primarily from clothing, were the most common form of microplastic detected, with polyethylene terephthalate and rubber among the dominant polymer types. The study underscores that laundry and everyday product use are significant sources of microplastic entering the water system.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative study on microplastic abundance in fish organs from marine and freshwater ecosystems of the southern Baltic Sea region: influence of habitat zone and feeding preferences

Researchers found microplastics in 58% of 500 fish specimens examined across Baltic Sea and northern Polish freshwater ecosystems, with carnivorous and benthic species showing the highest contamination levels and blue fibers being the most common particle type across all habitats.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

The first report on the occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Baltic Sea (Poland)

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive study of microplastic occurrence in commercial fish species and surrounding water from the Polish Baltic Sea, characterizing particle abundance and properties while examining the poorly understood relationship between microplastic concentrations in organisms and their surrounding habitat.

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

Microplastics in freshwater lakes: A case study from Southern India

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in Vellayani Lake, a major drinking water source in southern India, and found particles present across all sampling sites and seasons. Fibers were the most common shape, with polyethylene and polypropylene as the dominant polymer types, likely originating from domestic wastewater and fishing activities. The study highlights the need for monitoring microplastic pollution in freshwater lakes that serve as critical drinking water supplies.

2024 Geosystems and Geoenvironment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Influence of environmental and anthropogenic factors on the composition, concentration and spatial distribution of microplastics: A case study of the Bay of Brest (Brittany, France)

Researchers surveyed microplastic concentrations in surface water and sediment at nine locations across the Bay of Brest, France, and found that pollution levels were highest near population centers and wastewater outfalls. The study identified both polymer types and size distributions, helping to trace the sources of microplastic contamination in this coastal bay.

2017 Environmental Pollution 422 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater: A Focus on the Russian Inland Waters

This review synthesizes data on microplastic pollution in Russian inland waters, finding that synthetic polymer particles are accumulating across rivers, lakes, and groundwater systems, with fibers and fragments being the most prevalent forms detected.

2022 Water 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Geographical heterogeneity and dominant polymer types in microplastic contamination of lentic ecosystems: implications for methodological standardization and future research

Researchers found significant geographical heterogeneity in the types of microplastics contaminating lentic ecosystems worldwide, with polyethylene dominating overall, followed by polypropylene and polystyrene, highlighting regional differences in plastic sources and environmental persistence.

2023 RSC Advances 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and Mesoplastic Monitoring on Beaches: Understanding Seasonal and Spatial Distribution Patterns

Researchers monitored microplastic abundance and composition across 11 Latvian Baltic Sea beaches over four seasons from autumn 2022 to summer 2023, finding that seasonal climate patterns and proximity to the Gulf of Riga influence both microplastic load and spatial distribution along the northeastern European coastline.

2025
Article Tier 2

Urban Microplastics Emissions: Effectiveness of Retention Measures and Consequences for the Baltic Sea

Researchers estimated that 6.7 x 10^13 microplastic particles enter the Baltic Sea annually from urban sewage pathways, with stormwater runoff accounting for 62% of emissions, and modeled scenarios showing that improved retention measures in wastewater infrastructure could substantially reduce these inputs.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 47 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seawater and fish acquired from the corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea

Microplastics were detected in 100% of seawater and 61% of fish samples collected from corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea, with mean abundances of 19,984 items/m³ in seawater and 3.3 items per fish. The co-sampling design linking fish MP loads to their water column environment provided direct evidence of aquatic exposure driving tissue contamination.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Surface Waters of the Russian Arctic Seas: Distribution, Concentration, Identification, and Eco-Risks for Fish

Microplastics were detected across surface waters of the Russian Arctic seas, with concentrations and polymer types varying by region and season. The findings document that even high-latitude Arctic waters are not spared from microplastic contamination, likely transported by ocean currents and rivers.

2025 Journal of Ichthyology 1 citations