Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

First Assessment of Plasticizers in Marine Coastal Litter-Feeder Fauna in the Mediterranean Sea

Five small-sized Mediterranean amphipod crustacean species from coastal litter-feeder habitats were analyzed for plasticizer contamination, finding detectable levels and identifying these litter-feeding invertebrates as potential monitors of microplastic-associated chemical pollution.

2021 Toxics 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Chemical fingerprint of plastic litter in sediments and holothurians from Croatia: Assessment & relation to different environmental factors

Sea cucumbers from Croatian island sediments contained microplastics and semi-synthetic fibers, showing that these benthic animals ingest particles from the seafloor. As sea cucumbers are a commercially harvested species, their contamination has direct implications for human dietary exposure to microplastics.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 32 citations
Article Tier 2

Can Phthalates Be Considered as Microplastic Tracers in the Mediterranean Marine Environment?

This study assessed whether phthalate plasticizers could serve as tracers for microplastic pollution in Mediterranean coastal waters, examining their occurrence, distribution, and interactions with the marine environment in one of the world's plastic pollution hotspots.

2024 Environments 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in a mosaic of Marine Protected Areas from southeastern Brazil: An assessment based on filter-feeding bivalves

Researchers used filter-feeding bivalves as biological monitors to assess microplastic contamination across 28 marine protected areas along a heavily populated stretch of coastline in southeastern Brazil. They found microplastics in bivalves from all sites surveyed, demonstrating that protected status alone does not shield marine areas from plastic pollution. The study highlights how diffuse, transboundary plastic contamination reaches even designated conservation zones.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Mapping microplastic overlap between marine compartments and biodiversity in a Mediterranean marine protected area

Researchers mapped microplastic distribution across water, sediment, and biota in a Mediterranean marine protected area, revealing significant overlap between microplastic hotspots and biodiversity-rich zones, raising concerns about ecological impacts in supposedly protected habitats.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 10 citations
Article Tier 2

A baseline assessment of the relationship between microplastics and plasticizers in sediment samples collected from the Barcelona continental shelf

Researchers conducted a baseline assessment of microplastics and phthalate plasticizers in sediments of the Barcelona continental shelf, finding co-occurrence across all sampling stations and providing early evidence of the relationship between plastic debris and associated chemical contaminants in seafloor environments.

2022 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Chemical composition of microplastic in sediments and protected detritivores from different marine habitats (Salina Island)

This study characterized microplastics in sediments and sea cucumbers across different rocky-bottom habitats at Salina Island, Italy, finding that chemical composition varied by habitat type. Correlations were also found between microplastic composition and the diversity and coverage of benthic species at each site.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Identification and Quantification of Phthalate Pollution in Holothuria atra, a Sea Cucumber from the Persian Gulf (Iran)

Phthalate plasticizers were detected in sea cucumbers (Holothuria atra) collected from the Persian Gulf in Iran, indicating that these marine invertebrates accumulate plastic-derived chemicals from their environment. Sea cucumbers are consumed as food in many Asian countries, raising food safety concerns.

2017 Jundishapur Journal of Natural Pharmaceutical Products 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Detection of microplastics and phthalic acid esters in sea urchins from Sardinia (Western Mediterranean Sea)

Wild sea urchins from Sardinia in the western Mediterranean were found to contain microplastics in 9 of 22 specimens analyzed, with up to 4 particles per individual in the digestive tract. Phthalic acid esters were also detected in the gonads of 20 specimens, with an average concentration of 32 nanograms per gram.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic litter transfer from sediments towards marine trophic webs: A case study on holothurians

Sea cucumbers collected from the seafloor around a Sicilian island were found to contain microplastics in their bodies, having ingested them while feeding on sediment. Since sea cucumbers are consumed as food in many cultures, this represents a direct pathway for microplastic exposure in humans.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 78 citations
Article Tier 2

High levels of microplastics and microrubber pollution in a remote, protected Mediterranean Cladocora caespitosa coral bed

Researchers discovered high levels of microplastic and microrubber pollution in sediments surrounding a protected Cladocora caespitosa coral bed in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. The study suggests that even protected marine areas with coral communities are not immune to plastic contamination, raising concerns about the ecological impact on these already threatened reef ecosystems.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

A global snapshot of microplastic contamination in sediments and biota of marine protected areas

A global snapshot of microplastic contamination in sediments and biota across marine protected areas (MPAs) found that microplastics are ubiquitous even in these conservation zones, undermining their protective function. The review synthesizes occurrence data and calls for microplastic monitoring to be integrated into MPA management plans.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of microplastics isolated from sea cucumber Acaudina molpadioides in Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia

Researchers examined sea cucumbers from Langkawi, Malaysia and found over 1,600 microplastic particles in their digestive tracts, with fibers making up more than 99% of the contamination. The most common polymer types identified were polyethylene and polymethyl methacrylate, with the majority of particles falling in the smallest size ranges. The findings raise concerns about potential human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.

2023 Heliyon 24 citations
Article Tier 2

Evaluation of Microplastics Ingested by Sea Cucumber Holothuria Scabra from Pulau Jambongan, Sabah

Researchers found 7,403 microplastic particles in the digestive tracts of 30 sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) collected from a Malaysian island, with 99% being fibers and the dominant polymer being polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The high contamination level indicates significant marine pollution in the region and shows that bottom-dwelling sea cucumbers — which process large volumes of sediment — are especially exposed to microplastic accumulation. This is relevant to seafood safety since sea cucumbers are commercially harvested for human consumption.

2024 Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 3 citations
Article Tier 2

An Analysis of Microplastics Ingested by the Mediterranean Detritivore Holothuria tubulosa (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) Sheds Light on Patterns of Contaminant Distribution in Different Marine Areas

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion by the Mediterranean sea cucumber Holothuria tubulosa across different marine areas, revealing spatial patterns of contamination that reflect local pollution levels and the species' potential as a bioindicator.

2023 Water 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Phthalates and organophosphate esters in surface water, sediments and zooplankton of the NW Mediterranean Sea: Exploring links with microplastic abundance and accumulation in the marine food web

Phthalate esters and organophosphate esters were measured alongside microplastics in surface seawater, sediment, and zooplankton from Marseille Bay in the northwestern Mediterranean Sea. Co-occurrence of microplastics and plastic additive chemicals in multiple environmental compartments including zooplankton confirmed trophic transfer of both particle and chemical contaminants.

2020 Environmental Pollution 147 citations
Article Tier 2

Phthalate diester occurrence in marine feed and food (Mediterranean Sea)

Researchers detected phthalate diesters in Mediterranean Sea zooplankton, fish, and bivalves, with DEHP found in all zooplankton samples and 30% of fish, demonstrating how microplastics transport these endocrine-disrupting chemicals through marine food webs.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 12 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastics occurrence in sea cucumbers and impacts on sea cucumbers & human health: A systematic review

This systematic review found that microplastics are ubiquitous in sea cucumber ecosystems, with high concentrations in coastal sediments where these deposit feeders live. Some studies report that microplastic ingestion reduces sea cucumber feeding efficiency, alters behavior, and causes tissue damage, raising concerns for both ecosystem health and human consumers of this seafood.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Protected Areas of the Gulf of Venice

Plastic pollution was found in nearly all seven protected marine areas studied in the Gulf of Venice, with microplastics dominating. The findings suggest that official conservation status does not shield coastal sediments from plastic contamination.

2021 Water Air & Soil Pollution 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Human health risk assessment for consumption of microplastics and plasticizing substances through marine species

Researchers analyzed three seafood species from Ecuador and found microplastics along with plastic-derived chemicals including bisphenol-A and phthalates in all samples. The microplastics ranged in size from less than 1 micrometer to over 100 micrometers and included fragments, fibers, and films. The study assessed human health risks from consuming these contaminated species and found that estimated daily intake of certain plasticizers approached levels of concern.

2023 Environmental Research 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in sea cucumbers under different anthropogenic influences in Gran Canaria (Canary Islands, Spain)

Researchers examined sea cucumbers from the Persian Gulf for both microplastics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria, finding both types of contamination present. The results suggest that microplastics in marine environments may act as surfaces where antibiotic-resistant bacteria accumulate and spread.

2021 Marine Biology Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion and Phthalate ester levels as plastic tracers in the Mediterranean Velella velella: a candidate plastic indicator for the pelagic neustonic environment

Researchers used Mediterranean fish and invertebrates as bioindicators of plastic pollution, correlating microplastic ingestion levels with phthalate ester concentrations in their tissues to validate the use of combined biological monitoring for tracking spatial and temporal trends in marine plastic contamination.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Bioaccessibility of plastic-related compounds from polymeric particles in marine settings: Are microplastics the principal vector of phthalate ester congeners and bisphenol A towards marine vertebrates?

Researchers studied whether microplastics are a major pathway for delivering harmful plastic chemicals like phthalates and bisphenol A to marine animals during digestion. They found that while microplastics do release these compounds under simulated gut conditions, the amounts were relatively low compared to other environmental sources. The study suggests that microplastics may not be the primary route of chemical exposure for marine vertebrates, though they still contribute to the overall burden.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics ingestion by deep-sea decapod crustaceans from the Western Mediterranean

Researchers analyzed microplastic ingestion in four deep-sea decapod crustacean species collected from Sardinian and Catalan Mediterranean waters, dissecting gastrointestinal tracts from 210 individuals and characterizing ingested particles. They found microplastics in approximately 70% of examined specimens, revealing significant ingestion of microplastics by deep-sea benthic crustaceans and differences between Mediterranean regions, highlighting contamination of previously understudied deep-sea fauna.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)