Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Fate and Effects of Macro- and Microplastics in Coastal Wetlands

Researchers compiled data from 112 studies to evaluate how macro- and microplastics accumulate in and affect coastal wetlands including mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrass beds. They found that plastic concentrations in wetland sediments and marine animals were roughly 200 times higher than in the water column, indicating these ecosystems act as major plastic sinks. The study warns that plastic accumulation can alter sediment properties, harm wildlife, and disrupt the carbon storage function of these critical habitats.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 137 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in mangrove ecosystems: A critical review of current knowledge and future directions

This review synthesizes available research on microplastic pollution in mangrove ecosystems, which act as buffers between land and sea and accumulate plastics from both marine and terrestrial sources. The authors identify key gaps in knowledge and call for more research on how microplastics affect these ecologically critical habitats.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 228 citations
Article Tier 2

Source, fate, toxicity, and remediation of micro-plastic in wetlands: A critical review

Researchers reviewed how microplastics enter, accumulate in, and damage natural wetlands — ecosystems that filter water and support biodiversity — finding that while wetlands may actually trap plastic particles like a sink, the resulting contamination poses serious ecological risks that are still poorly understood.

2024 Watershed Ecology and the Environment 13 citations
Article Tier 2

A review on microplastic pollution in the mangrove wetlands and microbial strategies for its remediation

Researchers reviewed the growing problem of microplastic pollution in mangrove wetland ecosystems and its effects on the biological communities that depend on these habitats. They found that microplastic exposure can substantially alter the microbial communities critical to nutrient cycling in mangrove environments. The review also explores microbial bioremediation strategies as a sustainable approach to addressing plastic pollution in these threatened coastal ecosystems.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 68 citations
Article Tier 2

Non-negligible impact of microplastics on wetland ecosystems

This review examines microplastic pollution in wetland ecosystems, which sit between land and water and act as natural filters. Microplastics in wetlands come from sewage, agricultural runoff, and atmospheric deposition, with polyethylene and polypropylene fibers and fragments being the most common types found. The paper highlights that microplastics can harm wetland plants, animals, and microbes, and may even increase greenhouse gas emissions by serving as an unusual carbon source for soil microorganisms.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Role of saltmarsh systems in estuarine trapping of microplastics

Researchers found that saltmarsh vegetation significantly enhances the trapping of microplastics in estuarine sediments compared to adjacent bare mudflats, suggesting that these coastal ecosystems act as important sinks for plastic pollution under tidal flow conditions.

2022 Scientific Reports 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastics and microplastics, effects on marine coastal areas: a review

This review examines how plastics and microplastics impact coastal marine ecosystems, covering their entry pathways, degradation under environmental conditions, and ecological effects on marine organisms.

2020 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 72 citations
Article Tier 2

From source to sink: Review and prospects of microplastics in wetland ecosystems

This review synthesizes sources, distribution pathways, migration, and fate of microplastics in wetland ecosystems, which occupy the boundary zone between aquatic and terrestrial environments. It identifies wetlands as both important sinks and potential secondary sources of microplastics and calls for more research on microplastic dynamics in these transitional habitats.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 162 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination levels in Ghana's mangrove wetlands, examining how the morphology of mangrove root systems traps and accumulates plastic particles of all sizes and assessing the threat posed to these ecologically critical coastal ecosystems.

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

Multidimensional Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Mangrove Wetlands: Driving Mechanisms, Carbon Contribution, and Ecological Risk

Scientists found tiny plastic particles called microplastics throughout mangrove wetlands in China, with the highest levels in areas used for fishing and fish farming. These plastic particles are building up in the sediment and water, creating pollution hotspots that pose moderate ecological risks to these important coastal ecosystems. This matters because mangroves help protect coastlines and support marine life that humans depend on for food, so plastic pollution in these areas could ultimately affect our food supply and coastal protection.

2026 Environmental Science & Technology
Article Tier 2

Current status and trends of research on microplastic fugacity characteristics and pollution levels in mangrove wetlands

This systematic literature review analyzed the distribution, characteristics, and pollution levels of microplastics in mangrove wetlands globally, finding that mangroves act as significant traps for land-based plastics before they reach the open ocean. Fiber morphologies and polymer types reflected terrestrial sources, and microplastic density was highest near urban river inputs.

2022 Frontiers in Environmental Science 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecological Impacts of Microplastics in Coastal Environment

This review summarizes the ecological impacts of microplastics in coastal marine environments, covering ingestion and accumulation in marine birds, mammals, turtles, fish, and mollusks, and the broader consequences for sensitive ecosystems including coral reefs and mangroves.

2025 Sri Lankan Journal of Biology
Article Tier 2

Role of mangrove forest in interception of microplastics (MPs): Challenges, progress, and prospects

This review examines how mangrove forests intercept and accumulate microplastics from terrestrial, marine, and atmospheric sources, identifying knowledge gaps in understanding the mechanisms, ecological impacts, and long-term fate of trapped microplastics in mangrove ecosystems.

2022 Journal of Hazardous Materials 86 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in wetlands

This review examined the available research on microplastic occurrence and distribution across wetland ecosystems worldwide. Researchers found that wetlands are prone to microplastic pollution, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most commonly detected polymer types, and fibers and fragments being the dominant particle shapes. The study highlights that wetlands remain understudied compared to other aquatic ecosystems despite their ecological importance as transitional zones.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in the marine environment

This review provides a comprehensive overview of plastic pollution in coastal and marine environments, covering everything from how plastics enter the ocean to their effects on marine life. Researchers compiled global data showing microplastic concentrations ranging widely across different water bodies and sediments, with marine organisms accumulating significant amounts. The study underscores that plastic pollution causes ecological damage through entanglement, ingestion toxicity, and the transport of invasive species.

2020 Heliyon 939 citations
Article Tier 2

Studying the Presence and Distribution of Microplastics in a Norfolk Salt Marsh

Researchers investigated the presence and distribution of microplastics in a Norfolk salt marsh, examining whether fundamental sedimentation processes and dense vegetation make salt marshes significant long-term sinks for microplastic accumulation in coastal environments.

2024
Article Tier 2

Assessing microplastic contamination levels in ghana's mangrove wetlands

Researchers assessed microplastic contamination levels in mangrove wetlands in Ghana, examining how mangrove tree morphology facilitates plastic accumulation and what concentrations and polymer types are present in these coastal ecosystems. The study addressed threats to mangrove ecological services including water quality improvement, carbon sequestration, and coastline protection posed by plastic pollution.

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

Insightful analytical review of potential impacts of microplastic pollution on coastal and marine ecosystem services

This analytical review assessed how microplastic debris disrupts ecological functions of marine and coastal habitats, including mangroves and seagrass ecosystems, identifying critical knowledge gaps around microbial impacts and calling for coordinated global research on supporting ecosystem services most vulnerable to microplastic interference.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Water, Sediment, and Biota in Mangrove Forests

This review synthesized research on microplastic contamination in mangrove forest water, sediment, and biota, finding that mangroves act as both sinks and potential sources of microplastics due to their complex hydrodynamics, with ecotoxicological data on mangrove-specific organisms remaining limited.

2025
Article Tier 2

Dampak Mikroplastik terhadap Ekosistem Pesisir: Sebuah Telaah Pustaka

This Indonesian-language review examines the impacts of microplastics on coastal ecosystems, covering effects on marine organisms, sediment quality, and food web dynamics. The paper highlights the vulnerability of tropical coastal environments to plastic pollution from both land-based and marine sources.

2024 INSOLOGI Jurnal Sains dan Teknologi