Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Characteristics and distribution of microplastics in the coastal mangrove sediments of China

A survey of mangrove sediments along China's coast found microplastics were ubiquitous, with concentrations and polymer types varying by proximity to human activity and hydrological conditions. The study shows that mangrove forests, which provide critical coastal ecosystem services, are accumulating significant quantities of plastic pollution.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 213 citations
Article Tier 2

Depth Profiles of Microplastics in Sediment Cores from Two Mangrove Forests in Northern Vietnam

Microplastic contamination in sediment cores from two mangrove forests in northern Vietnam was analyzed by depth, finding concentrations ranging from 0 to 49 items per kg and providing a historical record of plastic pollution accumulation in these ecologically important coastal wetlands.

2021 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 57 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution, characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics in the mangroves of Southern China

Microplastics were found to be widespread in mangrove sediments across Southern China, with higher concentrations in areas closer to urban development and aquaculture. The study highlights mangroves as accumulation zones for microplastic pollution, which could threaten these ecologically important coastal ecosystems.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 339 citations
Article Tier 2

Depth Profiles of Microplastic in Sediment Cores in the Mangrove Area of Kuala Gula Mangrove, Malaysia

Researchers profiled microplastic abundance with depth in sediment cores from the Kuala Gula Mangrove in Malaysia, finding 25-130 items per kg dry weight and highest concentrations near rivermouth sites, demonstrating that mangrove sediments are significant microplastic sinks.

2023 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 22 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics leaving a trace in mangrove sediments ever since they were first manufactured: A study from Indonesia mangroves

Researchers analyzed sediment cores from Indonesian mangroves and found microplastics present throughout the historical record dating back to when plastics were first manufactured. Mangrove sediments near areas with high human activity contained significantly more microplastic contamination than those in more remote locations. The study suggests that mangrove environments have been trapping and preserving a record of plastic pollution for decades, making them useful for tracking contamination over time.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution of microplastics in sediment columns along the coastline of China

Sediment column samples collected from 11 provinces along China's coastline revealed that microplastic pollution decreases with depth and is more diverse in vertical profiles than in surface sediments, with fibers dominating. Estuarine and coastal areas showed higher contamination than mangrove reserves.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Multidecadal records of microplastic accumulation in the coastal sediments of the East China Sea

Analysis of sediment cores from the East China Sea inner shelf using SEM-EDS and microplastic-derived carbon quantification showed that microplastic accumulation has increased over decades, accelerating since the 1980s in parallel with China's rapid industrial and population growth.

2020 Chemosphere 93 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination of microplastics in mangrove sediment cores from Lach Huyen area, Hai Phong city, Vietnam

Microplastic concentrations in sediment cores from mangrove forests near a major Vietnamese port averaged over 1,300 particles per kilogram — substantially higher than comparable regions globally — with fibres comprising 80% of particles and concentrations decreasing with sediment depth, suggesting recent intensification of pollution. Mangrove sediments act as long-term plastic sinks, and the high fibre burden raises concern for the benthic organisms and communities that depend on these critical coastal ecosystems.

2023 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Anthropocene microplastic stratigraphy of Xiamen Bay, China: A history of plastic production and waste management

Researchers used a sediment core from Xiamen Bay, China to reconstruct the history of microplastic accumulation since 1952, finding that plastic pollution reflects historical events including the Cultural Revolution and rapid economic growth, with microplastic concentrations reaching 189,200 items/kg at their peak.

2022 Water Research 38 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in the mangrove sediment of the semi-enclosed Maowei Sea of the south China sea: New implications for location, rhizosphere, and sediment compositions

Microplastics were widespread in mangrove sediments of the semi-enclosed Maowei Sea in southern China, with concentrations influenced by location within the mangrove, proximity to roots, and sediment composition. The study provides new insight into how mangrove ecosystems trap and accumulate microplastics, raising concerns for the health of these ecologically important coastal habitats.

2018 Environmental Pollution 207 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution of microplastics in mangrove sediment in a tropical estuarine region.

Researchers characterized vertical microplastic distribution in sediment cores from mangrove fringe sites in the Piraque-Acu and Piraque-Mirim estuary in eastern Brazil, finding concentrations ranging from 80 to 960 items per kg dry weight using a saline flotation and vacuum filtration protocol.

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

Vertical distribution of microplastics in mangrove sediment in a tropical estuarine region.

Researchers characterized vertical microplastic distribution in sediment cores from mangrove fringe sites in the Piraque-Acu and Piraque-Mirim estuary in eastern Brazil, finding concentrations ranging from 80 to 960 items per kg dry weight using a saline flotation and vacuum filtration protocol.

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

How mangrove plants affect microplastic distribution in sediments of coastal wetlands: Case study in Shenzhen Bay, South China

The effect of different mangrove plant species on microplastic distribution in coastal wetland sediments was investigated, finding that plant species significantly influenced where microplastics accumulated. The study suggests that mangrove root and canopy structures create preferential zones for microplastic retention in coastal sediments.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 159 citations
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution of microplastics in bay sediment reflecting effects of sedimentation dynamics and anthropogenic activities

Researchers studied the vertical distribution of microplastics in sediment cores from the semi-enclosed Jiaozhou Bay, China, finding six polymer types with distribution patterns reflecting historical changes in plastic production and local pollution sources. Sediment depth was found to correlate with the era of plastic contamination, providing a record of microplastic accumulation over time.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 128 citations
Article Tier 2

Sedimentary record of microplastics in coastal wetland, eastern China

Researchers analyzed sediment cores from coastal wetlands in Yancheng, China, to reconstruct the history of microplastic pollution and its connection to economic development and policy changes. Evidence indicates that microplastic accumulation patterns in wetland sediments closely track shifts in plastic production, waste management practices, and regional policy interventions over time.

2023 Water Research 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, characteristics, and human exposure to microplastics in mangroves within the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area

Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across three mangroves in the Greater Bay Area of southern China, finding concentrations up to 1,600 particles per kilogram with higher levels at forest fringes, and assessed potential human exposure pathways.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics on beaches and mangrove sediments along the coast of South China

Microplastic concentrations in beach and mangrove sediments along the South China coast were higher in summer than winter, with fibres and fragments dominating, and mangrove sediments retaining significantly more particles than adjacent beaches, confirming mangroves as important sinks for coastal microplastic pollution.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 53 citations
Article Tier 2

Linking human activity to spatial accumulation of microplastics along mangrove coasts

Researchers sampled 50 locations along the largest mangrove coast in China to quantify how human activities drive microplastic accumulation in mangrove sediments. They found that densely populated areas and tourism hotspots contributed large white foam particles, while fishing areas produced smaller fragment-type microplastics. The study provides quantitative evidence linking specific human activities to distinct patterns of microplastic contamination in mangrove ecosystems.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 55 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial and vertical distribution of microplastics in mangrove sediment in the southern Philippines

This study mapped microplastic contamination in the sediments of three mangrove forests in Mindanao, Philippines, finding particles at all sites with counts ranging from 83 to 2,250 items per kilogram depending on location. Fragment shapes dominated near one river mouth while fibers dominated at a coastal site, and polypropylene was the most common polymer overall. Microplastic levels and types appeared linked to local economic activity, fishing, and waste management practices. The findings provide baseline data for protecting these ecologically important coastal ecosystems.

2025 Marine Environmental Research 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Fifty-year pollution history of microplastics and influencing factors in offshore sediments: A case study of Ningbo, China

Researchers analyzed sediment cores from offshore Ningbo, China, to reconstruct a fifty-year pollution history of microplastics in the region. They found that microplastic abundance has gradually increased since the late 1960s, with polyamide, polyurethane, and PET being the most common polymer types. The study identified river sediment transport, typhoons, and human activities like plastic production and sewage discharge as key factors influencing microplastic distribution in offshore sediments.

2023 Environmental Pollution 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of microplastics in tropical estuarine mangrove areas around Penang, Malaysia

This study documented microplastic pollution in tropical mangrove estuaries around Penang, Malaysia, finding thousands of plastic particles in both water and sediment samples. Concentrations were particularly high near the more urbanized Seberang Perai area, where sediment contained up to 4,000 particles per kilogram. The research highlights that tropical mangroves, which serve as important nursery habitats for marine life, are accumulating significant amounts of microplastic pollution.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 25 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution and historical trend of microplastic pollution in sediments from enclosed bays of South Korea

This study analyzed sediment cores from enclosed bays in South Korea to reconstruct the historical trend of microplastic pollution. Plastic levels increased sharply from the 1990s onward, mirroring the rise in global plastic production and providing a long-term record of contamination in coastal sediments.

2023
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in mangrove sediments of the Pearl River Estuary, South China: Correlation with halogenated flame retardants' levels

Microplastic concentrations in Pearl River Estuary mangrove sediments were high by global standards, averaging 851 items per kilogram, and significantly correlated with population density and GDP in the region. Several types of halogenated flame retardants in the sediments were also correlated with microplastic abundance, suggesting shared pollution sources.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 146 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, Diversity, and Ecological Risks of Microplastics in Mangrove Ecosystems of a Southeastern Chinese Estuary

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in mangrove sediments of the Zhangjiang Estuary in southeastern China, finding an average abundance of about 220 items per kilogram. The study found that interior mangrove habitats accumulated significantly more microplastics than edge zones, and abundance declined from upstream to downstream, suggesting terrestrial runoff as a primary source.

2025 Toxics 5 citations