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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Salt marsh sediments act as sinks for microplastics and reveal effects of current and historical land use changes
ClearMicroplastic pollution in salt marsh and urban tributary sediment cores of the River Thames estuary, UK: Spatial and temporal accumulation trends
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from a salt marsh and urban tributary of the Raritan River estuary to reconstruct the historical record of microplastic deposition. Microplastic concentrations increased dramatically from the mid-20th century, corresponding with rises in plastic production.
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.
Salt marshes as the final watershed fate for meso- and microplastic contamination: A case study from Southern Brazil
Researchers found that salt marshes act as significant sinks for meso- and microplastics transported through a watershed, with plastic particles accumulating in marsh sediments at densities reflecting upstream land use — highlighting salt marshes as both indicators of catchment-wide plastic pollution and potential long-term reservoirs.
A Temporal Investigation of Microplastics’ Distribution and Sediment Characteristics in Saltmarshes of the Adriatic Coast of Croatia
By analyzing sediment cores from two Croatian saltmarshes dating back to 1950, this study produced the first chronological record of microplastic accumulation in Mediterranean coastal wetlands. Microplastic concentrations rose sharply in surface layers closer to the present, with fibers dominating — likely from fishing and tourism activity. The findings confirm saltmarshes act as long-term sinks for microplastic pollution, trapping particles that may persist for decades and slowly re-enter the marine food web.
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.
Microplastics in saltmarshes: developing extraction methods and examining past accumulation
This thesis developed extraction methods for detecting microplastics in saltmarsh sediments and examined how these particles accumulate over time in coastal habitats. Saltmarshes act as natural filters and carbon stores, making their contamination by microplastics a concern for both ecosystem function and long-term pollution tracking.
Exponentially increasing microplastic accumulation in an urban estuary: insights from the Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island seafloor
Researchers found that microplastic concentrations in Narragansett Bay sediments have increased exponentially since the 1940s, mirroring global plastic production trends, with marsh sediments accumulating microplastics at ten to fifty times higher concentrations than nearby seabed sites. An estimated 2,300 to 3,000 tonnes of microplastics have accumulated in the bay's sediments over the past century, with nearly all sampling sites now exceeding harm thresholds for benthic organisms.
The Role of Estuarine Wetlands (Saltmarshes) in Sediment Microplastics Retention
Researchers compared microplastic levels in vegetated saltmarsh sediments versus bare sediments in a Portuguese estuary and found that saltmarsh vegetation traps significantly more plastic particles. Fibers were the most common type of microplastic found, followed by fragments. The study suggests that coastal wetlands act as natural filters for microplastic pollution, which has implications for both conservation and pollution management.
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.
Characterizing the temporal trends in the concentration and composition of microplastics over the 20th century to present in the Chesapeake Bay region
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from intertidal wetlands and estuaries in the Chesapeake Bay region to reconstruct microplastic concentration and composition trends since the early 20th century, finding that abundance closely tracks historical plastic production rates with shifts in polymer composition reflecting changes in industrial use.
Microplastic sequestration in saltmarsh sediments from Eastern Brazil
Researchers examined microplastic sequestration in saltmarsh sediments from Todos os Santos Bay in eastern Brazil, a bay subject to substantial industrial and urban inputs. Saltmarsh sediments accumulated high concentrations of microplastics, functioning as long-term sinks for plastic pollution in this coastal ecosystem.
A History of Microplastic Pollution in UK Salt Marshes
Scientists studied tiny plastic pieces (called microplastics) in UK salt marshes and found that pollution levels have grown dramatically since the 1950s when plastic production ramped up. These microscopic plastic fragments don't break down naturally and instead keep building up in coastal ecosystems over time. This matters because microplastics can enter our food chain through seafood and may pose health risks, though more research is needed to understand the full impact on humans.
Extensive estuarine sedimentary storage of plastics from city to sea: Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, USA
Researchers conducted a system-scale assessment of microplastic storage in Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, sampling both shoreline and seabed sediments and finding that estuarine systems are significant long-term repositories for plastic pollution transported from urban watersheds.
Microplastic distribution characteristics and storage in a multi-species saltmarsh
This study examined how microplastics are distributed and stored in a multi-species saltmarsh ecosystem. Saltmarshes trapped significant quantities of plastic particles, acting as long-term sinks that expose the organisms living in these coastal habitats to ongoing plastic contamination.
Identification of tidal trapping of microplastics in a temperate salt marsh system using sea surface microlayer sampling
Researchers used sea surface microlayer sampling to investigate tidal trapping of microplastics in a temperate salt marsh estuary, examining how the estuarine filter moderates land-to-sea microplastic transfer through vegetative trapping and particle flocculation. The study found that the sea surface microlayer captures microplastic-enriched material during tidal cycles, with salt marsh vegetation acting as a significant retention zone.
Microplastic Distribution at Different Sediment Depths in an Urban Estuary
Researchers sampled sediment cores from an urban estuary to map how microplastic particles are distributed at different depths over time. The study found that microplastic density varied with sediment depth, reflecting historical changes in plastic pollution and urban runoff.
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.
A baseline for microplastic particle occurrence and distribution in Great Bay Estuary
Researchers analyzed archived sediment cores from Great Bay Estuary in the Gulf of Maine and found microplastics distributed throughout sediments at an average of 116 particles per gram, with accumulation increasing over several decades before showing signs of a recent decrease.
Microplastics as novel sedimentary particles in coastal wetlands: A review
This review examined microplastics as novel sedimentary particles in coastal wetlands, arguing that their ubiquity, persistence, and interactions with natural particles warrant treating them as a new class of sedimentary material. The authors found that plastics buried in wetland sediments may be retained for longer than models predict due to high accretion rates, and suggest they can serve as historical pollution markers.
Microplastic sequestration in saltmarsh sediments from Eastern Brazil
Researchers characterized microplastic accumulation in saltmarsh sediments from Todos os Santos Bay, Brazil, finding high sequestration rates in vegetated coastal zones. The results highlight saltmarshes as important hotspots for microplastic deposition in tropical coastal environments.
A review on microplastics pollution in coastal wetlands
Researchers reviewed existing studies on microplastic pollution in coastal wetlands — ecosystems like mangroves, salt marshes, and tidal flats — summarizing where microplastics accumulate, how they get there, and how they affect wildlife and ecosystem function. These habitats are especially vulnerable because they sit at the boundary between land and sea, trapping plastics carried by both rivers and ocean tides.
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.
Assessing the role of the “estuarine filter” for emerging contaminants: pharmaceuticals, perfluoroalkyl compounds and plasticisers in sediment cores from two contrasting systems in the southern U.K.
Researchers measured seven emerging contaminants including pharmaceuticals, perfluoroalkyl compounds, and plasticisers in dated estuary sediment cores from urban and rural sites in southern UK, finding that estuarine saltmarsh sediments provide limited capacity to trap these mobile pollutants before they reach coastal waters.
Microplastic burial potential and ecological risks in mangrove forests of the Amazon River delta
Researchers studied how mangrove forests in the Amazon River delta trap and bury microplastics in their soil, analyzing sediment cores going back over a century. Microplastics were found in nearly all samples, including some deposited before the modern plastic era, suggesting redistribution through sediment movement. The study is the first to quantify the microplastic burial capacity of mangroves, showing these ecosystems act as long-term sinks for plastic pollution.