Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Protracted dynamicity of microplastics in the coastal sediment of the Southeast Black Sea

Comparing sediment samples from the Southeast Black Sea coast collected a decade apart in 2012 and 2022, this study found that microplastic abundances had increased substantially and that fibers and fragments dominated, with the majority of detected polymers linked to regional fishing and tourism activities.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in marine ecosystems: exposure, ingestion, and accumulation dynamics in seahorses

This Portuguese-language thesis investigated microplastic exposure, ingestion, and accumulation dynamics in seahorses from coastal marine environments. The study characterized microplastic types found in seahorse gastrointestinal tracts and assessed how seahorse feeding ecology and habitat use influence their microplastic accumulation.

2025 Portuguese National Funding Agency for Science, Research and Technology (RCAAP Project by FCT)
Article Tier 2

First evidence of ingestion and retention of microplastics in seahorses (Hippocampus reidi) using copepods (Acartia tonsa) as transfer vectors

Researchers provided the first evidence that seahorse larvae (Hippocampus reidi) ingest and retain microplastics transferred through copepod prey, demonstrating trophic transfer of microplastics in early developmental stages of a vulnerable marine fish species.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 25 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

Monthly microplastics change in European anchovy's (Engraulis encrasicolus) gastrointestinal tract in the Black Sea

Researchers tracked monthly microplastic contamination in European anchovy from the Black Sea over a full year, finding seasonal variation in plastic ingestion that correlated with changes in feeding behavior and oceanographic conditions.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Preliminary Study on Microplastic Contamination in Black Sea Cetaceans: Gastrointestinal Analysis of Phocoena phocoena relicta and Tursiops truncatus ponticus

Researchers conducted a preliminary study of microplastic contamination in the gastrointestinal tracts of Black Sea harbor porpoises and bottlenose dolphins, documenting microplastic presence and characterizing particle types and polymer compositions.

2024 Animals 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Hallmarking microplastics of sediments and Chamelea gallina inhabiting Southwestern Black Sea: A hypothetical look at consumption risks

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in sediments and the bivalve Chamelea gallina along the Southwestern Black Sea coast, finding 28-684 particles per kilogram in sediments and up to 2.17 particles per individual clam, with seven polymer types identified.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 49 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic ingestion by pelagic and demersal fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea

Researchers examined gastrointestinal tracts of 290 North and Baltic Sea fish and detected plastic in 5.5% of individuals, with pelagic species like herring and mackerel ingesting plastic at three times the rate of bottom-dwelling cod and flounder, and polyethylene making up nearly 40% of identified polymer types.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 618 citations
Article Tier 2

Investigation of Microplastic Accumulation in Horse Mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) Caught in the Black Sea

Horse mackerel (Trachurus mediterraneus) caught from Turkish coastal waters were found to contain microplastics in their gastrointestinal tracts, with fibers and fragments the most common types. The study contributes to baseline data on microplastic contamination in commercially important Mediterranean fish species.

2022 Journal of Anatolian Environmental and Animal Sciences 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics assessment in Arabian Sea fishes: accumulation, characterization, and method development

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in Arabian Sea fish species, developing optimized digestion protocols and characterizing polymer types to trace contamination sources, finding widespread microplastic ingestion across multiple commercially important fish species.

2023 Brazilian Journal of Biology 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion and egestion by copepods in the Black Sea

Researchers assessed microplastic ingestion and excretion by copepods in the Black Sea for the first time, alongside measuring plastic pollution in the water column. They found microplastics at all sampling stations, with the highest concentrations near river mouths, and confirmed that copepods actively ingest and excrete these particles. The findings suggest that microplastic contamination is widespread in the Black Sea and is entering the base of the marine food web.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 102 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of four most consumed fish species in Giresun, the Southeastern Black Sea

Researchers examined four commonly eaten fish species from the Black Sea coast of Turkey and found microplastics in the digestive tracts of all four species. Bottom-dwelling fish had higher microplastic concentrations than surface-dwelling species, likely because microplastics settle and accumulate in sediments. Since these are popular commercial fish species, the findings underscore a direct route of microplastic exposure for seafood consumers in the region.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 41 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

Seasonal monitoring of microplastic pollution in the Southeast Black Sea: An example of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) gastrointestinal tracts

Researchers found seasonal variation in microplastic occurrence in the gastrointestinal tracts of red mullet (Mullus barbatus) from the Southeast Black Sea, with the highest counts detected in winter and autumn, and fibers as the predominant shape across all seasons.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 14 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

Unveiling microplastic contamination in seafood: Source, fate, analytical methods, health impacts, mitigation strategies and scientometric trends

This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic contamination in seafood, covering sources, detection methods, health implications, and global research trends from 2011 to 2025. Researchers found significant gaps in toxicological studies and inconsistencies in detection methods across different regions. The study calls for standardized analytical approaches and more interdisciplinary research to better understand and mitigate the risks of consuming microplastic-contaminated seafood.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristics and retention of microplastics in the digestive tracts of fish from the Yellow Sea

Researchers systematically characterized microplastics in 19 fish species from the Yellow Sea coast of China, finding plastic retention in 34% of individual fish sampled, with fibers dominating and significant variation in microplastic load by species and habitat.

2019 Environmental Pollution 138 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccumulation of contaminants in wild seahorses collected from coastal China

Wild seahorses collected from seven coastal provinces in China were analyzed for heavy metals, benzo(a)pyrene, and microplastics, with all three contaminant types detected. Levels varied by species and location, reflecting differing degrees of coastal pollution exposure. The findings raise concerns about contamination in seahorses, which are used in traditional medicine.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of microplastics and occurrence of parasite association in Mediterranean anchovy and sardine

Scientists quantified microplastic ingestion in European sardines and anchovies from the Northwestern Mediterranean, finding 58–60% occurrence rates and noting that parasite infection was negatively associated with microplastic presence, suggesting shared ecological or physiological factors.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 91 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