Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Characteristics of Microplastics in Mangrove Sediments in the Jiulong River Estuary and the Association with Heavy Metals].

Researchers measured microplastic abundance and types in mangrove wetland sediments at the Jiulong River estuary in China, also examining associations with heavy metals. The findings show that mangrove sediments accumulate both microplastics and metals, raising concerns for the health of these coastal ecosystems.

2022 PubMed 5 citations
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

Assessing the Interrelationship Between Microplastics and Polychlorinated Biphenyls Contamination in Chinese Mangrove Sediment

Researchers quantified polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) concentrations on microplastics extracted from mangrove sediments across representative sites in China, investigating the interrelationship between MP pollution dynamics and PCB contamination in these critical intertidal ecosystems. The study reveals how mangrove sediments accumulate both MPs and co-associated hydrophobic organic contaminants, highlighting combined pollution risks.

2024 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering
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

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

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

Revealing Microplastic Contamination in Mangrove Sediments from Setiu Wetlands, Malaysia

Researchers found 2,292 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment in the mangrove wetlands of Setiu, Malaysia, with over 80% being tiny fibers likely from fishing gear and packaging. Areas near aquaculture operations had the highest contamination levels, and the microplastic surfaces showed signs of environmental degradation that could make them more toxic. Mangrove ecosystems act as natural traps for microplastics, concentrating pollution in habitats that are vital for fisheries and coastal protection.

2025 Indonesian Journal of Chemistry 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Insights into co-occurrence characteristics and interplay of microbial communities and environmental pollutants on biofilm-colonized microplastics in mangrove ecosystems

Researchers conducted an in situ study in mangrove ecosystems examining how microplastics accumulate biofilms over time, finding progressive development of microbial communities across seasons, polymer types, and exposure durations, with heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants co-occurring on microplastic surfaces.

2025 Water Research
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

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

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

Interaction and bacterial effects of microplastics pollution on heavy metals in hyporheic sediments of different land-use types in the Beiluo River Basin

Researchers studied how microplastics and heavy metals interact in river sediments across different land-use types in a Chinese river basin. They found that microplastics concentrated more heavily in shallow sediments and that the metals detected on microplastic surfaces were present at much higher levels than in surrounding sediment. The study suggests that microplastics may serve as concentrators and carriers of heavy metal contamination, potentially amplifying pollution risks.

2024 Environmental Pollution 8 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

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

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

Microplastic accumulation in fish from Zhanjiang mangrove wetland, South China

Microplastics were found in multiple fish species collected from Zhanjiang mangrove wetlands in South China, with contamination levels and particle types varying by species and feeding behavior. The study highlights how microplastics accumulate in fish living in mangrove ecosystems and enter coastal food chains.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 235 citations
Article Tier 2

[Occurrence Relationship Between Microplastics and Heavy Metals Pollutants in the Estuarine Sediments of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River].

This study analyzed microplastic and heavy metal concentrations in sediments at the junction of Poyang Lake and the Yangtze River in China, finding substantial microplastic abundance (averaging ~982 particles/kg) that correlated with levels of copper, cadmium, lead, zinc, and chromium. The co-occurrence of these pollutants raises concern that microplastics and heavy metals may compound each other's environmental risks in this region.

2020 PubMed 16 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

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the soil of mangrove restoration wetland and the effects of microplastics on soil characteristics

Researchers measured microplastic distribution in soils of a mangrove restoration wetland with different planting densities, finding an average abundance of 217 MPs per kilogram of dry soil with higher concentrations in denser planting zones. MPs in the soil also altered wetland soil physicochemical properties including bulk density and organic matter content.

2022 Ecotoxicology 46 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

Microplastics retention in different types of Mangrove forest in Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam

Researchers measured microplastic retention in three types of mangrove forest in Xuan Thuy National Park, Vietnam, and found that mangroves trap significant quantities of microplastics from coastal waters. Mangrove restoration projects could therefore help reduce microplastic loads in adjacent coastal waters as an ecosystem service. However, mangroves themselves accumulate microplastics, which may affect their ecological functions over time.

2023
Article Tier 2

Distribution and co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea

This study characterized the co-occurrence of microplastics and co-existing pollutants (heavy metals and plastic additives) in bottom water and sediment of the East China Sea. Microplastics were widely distributed and carried adsorbed chemical contaminants at concentrations posing potential ecological risks, with plastic-associated pollutants correlated with specific polymer types and particle aging states.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 4 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

Distribution and diversity of microplastics along the aquatic food web in the largest mangrove reserve of China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across the food web in China's largest natural mangrove reserve, examining fish, crabs, shrimp, and bivalves. They found that fish contained the most microplastics, and that organisms feeding indiscriminately accumulated more plastic particles than selective feeders. The study introduces a microplastic diversity index that reveals surprisingly complex contamination patterns across different species and trophic levels in mangrove ecosystems.

2025 Journal of Hazardous Materials 4 citations