Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Macrodebris and microplastic distribution in the beaches of Rameswaram Coral Island, Gulf of Mannar, Southeast coast of India: A first report

Researchers conducted the first survey of plastic debris in sediments from Rameswaram coral island in India's Gulf of Mannar, finding white irregular-shaped fragments dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene, with tourism and fishing identified as primary sources and wind-driven aeolian transport controlling spatial distribution.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in the coral reef environments of the Gulf of Mannar, India - Characteristics, distributions, sources and ecological risks

Microplastic surveys in the coral reef environments of the Gulf of Mannar, India found that polyethylene and polypropylene were the dominant polymers, with land-based sources being the main contributor and pollution load indices indicating moderate to high ecological risk.

2022 Environmental Pollution 79 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution patterns in Kappil Beach sediments, Kerala

Beach sediment samples from Kappil, Kerala in India revealed 766 microplastic particles dominated by nylon fibers (78%), along with polyethylene and polystyrene, with the majority smaller than 1 mm. Risk assessments classified contamination as moderate to high, suggesting active fragmentation of larger plastic debris is ongoing. This baseline data is valuable for tracking pollution trends in Indian coastal ecosystems where fishing and tourism create significant plastic inputs.

2026 Discover Geoscience
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of subsurface microfibres and seabed macrolitter in Thoothukudi, Gulf of Mannar, South-east coast of India

This study measured the abundance and distribution of microfibers and larger plastic litter in coastal waters and seafloor sediments off Thoothukudi, India, finding widespread contamination. Microfibers were present throughout inshore waters, contributing to the growing body of evidence for plastic contamination along India's coastlines.

2023 Journal of Environmental Biology
Article Tier 2

Contamination of microplastics, surface morphology and risk assessment in beaches along the Thoothukudi coast, Gulf of Mannar region

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination in beach sediments along the Thoothukudi coast in India, finding widespread presence of fragments and films with high ecological risk scores, alongside surface morphological analysis revealing weathering and chemical changes consistent with long-term environmental exposure.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 28 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics particles in seafloor sediments along the Arabian Sea and the Andaman Sea continental shelves: First insight on the occurrence, identification, and characterization

This first study of seafloor sediment microplastics on the Arabian Sea and Andaman Sea continental shelves found plastic particles across all sampled stations, with fiber and fragment shapes dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, establishing a baseline for these deep-margin environments.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 56 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics around an inhabited coral island in the Maldives, Indian Ocean

Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation across fore reef, reef flat, and beach sediment environments surrounding a small inhabited coral island in the Maldives, finding 1,244 individual microplastic pieces across 22 sampling sites. The study reveals that even remote inhabited islands in the Indian Ocean show significant microplastic contamination, with spatial distribution patterns reflecting local hydrodynamics and human activities.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Seasonal distribution and abundance of microplastics in the coastal sediments of north eastern Arabian Sea

Researchers documented seasonal variation in microplastic abundance along India's North Eastern Arabian Sea coast, finding 4,400 to 15,300 items per kilogram of dry sediment with fibers as the dominant form across ten identified polymer types.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sand from three different Indian coastal environments

Beach sands from three locations on the Indian coast were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations of 45–220 particles/kg dry sand with polyethylene (43%) as the dominant polymer, followed by PET and polystyrene. The study establishes baseline contamination data for Indian beaches and demonstrates consistent polymer profiles across geographically distinct coastal environments.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 432 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the coral reef, sea grass and near shore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India

Researchers compared microplastic occurrence and characteristics alongside heavy metal contaminants in water and sediment across coral reef, seagrass, and nearshore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India, finding mean concentrations ranging from 24 to 96 items/L and identifying habitat-specific differences in contamination profiles.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence, distribution and composition of microplastics in the sediments of South Andaman beaches

Microplastics were found at all eight sampling stations on beaches of the South Andaman Islands, India, with an average of 414 particles per kilogram of sediment and 13 polymer types identified. Poor solid waste management, tourism, and maritime activity were identified as the main sources.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 152 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and surface degradation features of microplastics in beach sediments of five coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, India

Microplastic abundance and surface weathering features were characterized in beach sediments from five coastal areas in Tamil Nadu, India, with concentrations reaching up to 439 particles per kg and polyethylene and polypropylene dominating.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 270 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in beach sediments from Karnataka (India) coastal environments

Researchers surveyed five beaches along the Arabian Sea coast in Karnataka, India, and found microplastic concentrations ranging from 264 to 1,002 particles per kilogram of dry sand. The majority of particles were small fragments less than 1 millimeter in size, and microscopy revealed signs of extensive environmental weathering. The study provides important baseline data on microplastic contamination along India's western coastline.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 134 citations
Article Tier 2

Type and Distribution of Microplastics in Beach Sediment along the Coast of the Eastern Gulf of Thailand

Researchers examined microplastic distribution in beach sediments along the eastern Gulf of Thailand across two monsoon seasons, finding up to 1,698 pieces/m2 at the most contaminated site with PET (39.6%) and polyamide (22.8%) as the dominant polymer types among 17 identified.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 31 citations
Article Tier 2

Prevalence of microplastics in the sediments of Odisha beaches, southeastern coast of India

This first study of microplastic prevalence on beaches of the Odisha coast in southeastern India documented widespread contamination, with fiber and fragment types dominated by polypropylene and polyethylene across multiple beach sites.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization and distribution of microplastics in estuarine surface sediments, Kayamkulam estuary, southwest coast of India

Microplastic characterization in surface sediments of the Kayamkulam estuary in southwestern India found fibers and fragments dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, establishing a pollution baseline for this ecologically important wetland.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Type and Distribution of Microplastic Contamination in Beach Sediment Along the Coast of the Lower Gulf of Thailand

Microplastic contamination was surveyed at five beaches along Thailand's lower Gulf Coast, with Talo Kapo showing the highest abundance and fragment-type particles being most common. The findings document baseline plastic pollution levels and polymer types across different coastal settings.

2023 Applied Ecology and Environmental Research 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Analysis of Microplastics in Sediments of Muzhapilangad Beach, Kannur

Researchers identified and quantified microplastics in sediment samples from Muzhapilangad Beach in Kerala, India. The study documents coastal microplastic contamination and characterizes particle types, providing baseline data for monitoring and managing plastic pollution at this popular tourist beach.

2023 Journal of Environmental Engineering and Studies
Article Tier 2

Microplastic and heavy metal distributions in an Indian coral reef ecosystem

Microplastics and heavy metals were found together in coral reef waters and sediments in the Gulf of Mannar, India, with polyethylene the most common polymer and metals including zinc, mercury, and lead associated with plastic surfaces. The study provides baseline contamination data for an ecologically important reef system facing pressure from both microplastics and metal pollution.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 167 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative assessment of microplastic contamination in muddy shores of Gulf of Khambhat, India

Researchers surveyed 21 muddy shoreline sites along India's Gulf of Khambhat and found microplastic contamination at every location, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes. Polymer analysis identified polyethylene, polypropylene, and nylon as the dominant types. This study provides baseline data on microplastic pollution in an understudied coastal region that supports fishing communities and marine biodiversity.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 48 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic pollution in corals, seawater, and marine sediments in the Gulf of Thailand

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence, abundance, and characteristics in coral, seawater, and sediment samples from two reef sites in the Gulf of Thailand, detecting microplastics in all coral samples at concentrations ranging from 0.24 to 2.60 particles per gram and finding spatial variability across reef species and sites.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in surface sediments from the Gulf of Thailand

Researchers investigated the distribution and characteristics of microplastics in surface sediments across the Gulf of Thailand, finding an average abundance of 150.4 pieces/kg dry weight with fragment shapes dominating, and observed a correlation between sediment grain size and microplastic content. The results establish baseline contamination data for this Southeast Asian coastal region.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 100 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of micro and macroplastics along the west coast of India: Abundance, distribution, polymer type and toxicity.

This study assessed the abundance and types of micro- and macroplastics on ten beaches along India's west coast, finding plastic in all locations with fragments being the most common form. Polymer analysis revealed polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene as the dominant types, and toxicity testing indicated the plastic-contaminated sediments posed ecological risks.

2020 Chemosphere
Article Tier 2

A baseline study of meso and microplastic predominance in pristine beach sediment of the Indian tropical island ecosystem

Researchers conducted a baseline survey of meso- and microplastic contamination on beaches of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in India, finding plastic debris present even in these relatively remote tropical island ecosystems, with fragments and films being the most common types.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 32 citations