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

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

Microplastics in Singapore’s coastal mangrove ecosystems

Researchers sampled coastal mangrove ecosystems in Singapore and found microplastics throughout, demonstrating that mangrove habitats accumulate plastic pollution and raising concerns for the organisms that depend on these ecologically important coastal forests.

2013 Marine Pollution Bulletin 977 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

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

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

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

Microplastics in mangroves with special reference to Asia: Occurrence, distribution, bioaccumulation and remediation options

This review examines microplastic contamination in Asian mangrove ecosystems, finding higher pollution levels near fishing, tourism, and industrial areas. Organisms throughout the mangrove food web, from shellfish to fish, accumulate microplastics based on their feeding habits and habitat. While mangrove plants can trap some microplastics in their roots, the widespread contamination of these coastal ecosystems raises concerns about the safety of seafood harvested from mangrove areas for human consumption.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 54 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and retention of microplastics in plantation mangrove forest sediments

Researchers investigated the spatial distribution and retention of microplastics in sediments of plantation mangrove forests, finding that mangrove plantations act as effective sinks for microplastics transported by ocean tides, with particle size and shape influencing where plastics accumulate within the forest structure.

2022 Chemosphere 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

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

Quantifying microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forests: A comparative analysis of abundance, morphotype, polymer composition and toxicity.

Researchers quantified microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forest sediments across multiple sites, providing rare baseline data for African coastal ecosystems that are underrepresented in global microplastic research. Microplastics were detected at all sampled mangrove sites, with contamination levels varying in relation to proximity to urban development and river inputs.

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

Microplastic in mangroves: A worldwide review of contamination in biotic and abiotic matrices

This worldwide review analyzed 53 studies on microplastic contamination in mangrove sediments, water, and organisms across Asia, America, and Africa, finding that research is geographically limited and lacks wide-scale coverage of mangrove coastlines. Most studies characterized microplastic type, size, color, and morphology but did not assess ecological risks.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics in the superficial sediment of a mangrove in Southeast Brazil: A comparison between fringe and basin

Microplastic distribution was compared between fringe and basin mangrove zones in southeastern Brazil, finding that basin forests trapped significantly more microplastics than fringe areas due to lower hydrodynamic energy and greater sediment retention.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 69 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantifying microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forests: A comparative analysis of abundance, morphotype, polymer composition and toxicity.

Researchers quantified microplastic pollution in South African mangrove forests using a comparative approach across multiple sites, filling a baseline knowledge gap for African coastal ecosystems where prior data is scarce. Microplastics were detected across mangrove sediments at levels that varied with proximity to urban and anthropogenic pressure.

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

Occurrenceand characteristics of microplastics in benthic species from mangrove wetlands of Hainan, South China

Researchers found microplastics in 10 species of benthic organisms — including crabs, bivalves, and snails — across seven mangrove areas in Hainan, China, confirming that mangrove ecosystems and the organisms that inhabit them are significantly contaminated by microplastic pollution.

2023 Frontiers in Marine Science 12 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

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
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Identifying patterns of microplastic accumulation in coastal vegetated habitats: A systematic review and meta-analysis

A meta-analysis of microplastic accumulation in coastal vegetated habitats found that mangroves have the highest microplastic concentrations compared to saltmarshes and seagrass beds, especially near urban centers and fishing zones. Nearly 40% of comparisons showed higher microplastic accumulation in vegetated versus unvegetated sites, with degraded habitats accumulating more plastics.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 1 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
Article Tier 2

Vertical distribution, accumulation, and characteristics of microplastics in mangrove sediment in China

Sediment cores up to 100 cm deep were collected from six mangrove forests in China to document the vertical distribution and historical record of microplastic accumulation. The Futian mangrove in Shenzhen had the highest microplastic abundance up to 3,123 particles per kilogram, and the earliest plastic-bearing sediment layers date back to China's plastic industry development in the 1980s.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 44 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization, source, and retention of microplastic in sandy beaches and mangrove wetlands of the Qinzhou Bay, China

Researchers characterized microplastics in sediments from both sandy beaches and mangrove wetlands in Qinzhou Bay, southern China, finding higher abundances in mangrove sediments than beach sediments due to the trapping function of root systems. The study demonstrates that mangroves act as effective sinks for microplastic pollution in coastal zones.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 296 citations
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

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)