Papers

20 results
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Article Tier 2

Participatory monitoring with VA'A canoes identifies key environmental factors driving microplastic distribution

Researchers used participatory monitoring with VA'A canoes to assess microplastic abundance, composition, and distribution in coastal environments, identifying key environmental, spatial, and temporal factors driving microplastic distribution while demonstrating the value of integrating water sports communities into scientific monitoring.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Approaches to understanding and monitoring sources, distribution, and fate of plastic waste generated on the Peruvian coast

Researchers established monitoring approaches for plastic waste sources, distribution, and fate along the Peruvian coast through the REMARCO Regional Citizen Science Programme, quantifying inputs from Lima and Callao, mapping pollution pathways from sources to marine environments, and building national capacity for microplastic monitoring in sandy beaches.

2025
Article Tier 2

System effects mapping: a tool for promoting collaborative community ecological action

This paper is not about microplastics — it describes a participatory action research method called System Effects Mapping used to build shared understanding among community stakeholders around urban waterway pollution.

2024 Frontiers in Environmental Science 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Plastic pollution in marine ecosystems: spatiotemporal assessment in beach sediments of protected coastal areas

Researchers conducted a spatiotemporal assessment of plastic pollution including microplastics in beach sediments across 13 beaches in marine protected areas in Colombia and the Canary Islands, Spain, evaluating plastic debris under varying environmental conditions in ecologically sensitive coastal zones.

2025
Article Tier 2

Plastic Marine Waste and its Potential for Indonesian Indigenous Communities

This article explores the potential for Indonesian indigenous communities to play a role in addressing marine plastic waste, combining traditional ecological knowledge with waste management strategies. It highlights cultural and governance dimensions of plastic pollution responses in coastal Indonesia.

2020 eTropic electronic journal of studies in the tropics 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Efforts to Increase Public Awareness About Microplastic Hazards in Communities at the Coastal Beach of Padang

Community outreach activities in Padang, Indonesia, aimed to raise public awareness about the hazards of microplastics, particularly at coastal beaches where plastic waste accumulates. The study documents how environmental education programs can build local capacity for addressing plastic pollution.

2023 Jurnal Pengabdian Ilmu Kesehatan (JPIK)
Article Tier 2

Assessment of stream quality and health risks in Indonesian river systems: A social analysis and water quality index approach

Researchers assessed water quality in three Indonesian rivers used by local communities, finding microplastics — primarily polyethylene and polypropylene — alongside elevated levels of iron, lead, and manganese, with residents reporting rising rates of skin disease and diarrhea linked to polluted water use.

2025 Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering 3 citations
Article Tier 2

Application of Remote Sensing for the Detection and Monitoring of Microplastics in the Coastal Zone of the Colombian Caribbean

Researchers explored using remote sensing technology, including Sentinel-2 satellite imagery and machine learning algorithms, to detect and monitor microplastic pollution along the Colombian Caribbean coast. The study found that combining multispectral satellite data with computational models shows promise for systematic, large-scale monitoring of coastal microplastic contamination in regions where ground-level surveillance remains limited.

2025 Microplastics 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Coastal populations and river discharges as sources of microplastic pollution of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombian Caribbean

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in surface waters of the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta coastal lagoon in Colombia and assessed the contribution of coastal populations and river discharges as pollution sources. MPs were detected throughout this internationally protected Ramsar site, with proximity to populated areas and river inputs driving spatial variation in contamination.

2025 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 4 citations
Article Tier 2

INVEMAR produce scientific information with the implementation of REMARCO protocols for monitoring microplastics in Colombia

This study describes the implementation of REMARCO standardized protocols by INVEMAR to monitor microplastics along Colombia's Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, addressing a context where approximately 65% of plastic waste is disposed of in open dumps or natural water bodies, and generating baseline scientific data on microplastic accumulation in coastal and marine ecosystems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Microplastic distribution and risk assessment in estuarine systems influenced by traditional villages and artisanal fishery activities

Researchers mapped microplastic pollution in estuaries along the Amazon coast and found that areas with more people and fishing activity had the highest concentrations. Most of the microplastics were tiny fibers, likely from synthetic clothing and fishing gear. While risk levels were currently rated low, the study shows that even remote coastal communities are contributing to microplastic buildup in sensitive ecosystems.

2024 Scientific Reports 19 citations
Article Tier 2

Behavior of coastal communities in dealing with microplastic pollution in salt ponds in Cirebon Regency

Researchers analyzed the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of coastal communities in Cirebon Regency, Indonesia regarding microplastic pollution in salt ponds, assessing correlations between community awareness and domestic plastic waste management practices.

2024 Journal of Character and Environment
Article Tier 2

Plastic litter pollution along sandy beaches in the Caribbean and Pacific coast of Colombia

Researchers surveyed plastic litter pollution on 43 beaches along Colombia's Caribbean and Pacific coasts, documenting the types and quantities present and calling for locally adapted management strategies.

2020 Environmental Pollution 116 citations
Article Tier 2

Tangled Waters: Equity-based Study of Plastic Pollution Impacts on Indigenous Communities in Fiji

Researchers examined the impacts of plastic pollution on Indigenous communities at three case study locations in Fiji, blending Indigenous knowledge systems with contemporary research methods and equity frameworks to assess distributional, procedural, and recognitional dimensions of plastic pollution. The year-long fieldwork-based study found that plastic pollution disproportionately burdens Indigenous communities and recommended improved waste management solutions grounded in community agency.

2024 ScholarSpace (University of Hawaii at Manoa)
Article Tier 2

The impact of tourism on marine litter pollution on Santa Marta beaches, Colombian Caribbean

Tourism significantly increased litter pollution on beaches in Santa Marta, Colombia, with plastics making up 30-77% of macroplastic waste and microplastics ranging from 1 to 355 items per square meter during peak tourist season. Local residents identified tourism as the primary source, highlighting the need for better waste management and public education at coastal destinations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Percepción ambiental de dos comunidades aledañas a un relleno sanitario y un incinerador de residuos peligrosos en Neiva, Huila

This Colombian study assessed the environmental perceptions of communities living near a landfill and a hazardous waste incinerator in Neiva, examining attitudes toward environmental problems and responsibility. Community perception research near waste facilities is relevant to understanding public health concerns about plastic waste and microplastic exposure.

2023 Mundo FESC
Article Tier 2

Contaminación por vertidos de aguas residuales: Una revisión de las interacciones microorganismos–microplásticos y sus posibles riesgos ambientales en aguas costeras colombianas

This review analyzes how wastewater discharges into Colombian coastal waters introduce both microplastics and pathogenic microorganisms, examining the environmental risks of microorganism-microplastic interactions and their implications for biodiversity and human health.

2023 Ecosistemas 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Topological encounters in biodiversity conservation: Making and contesting maps in the Colombian high Andean páramos

This paper is not about microplastics; it examines how mapping and cartographic practices are used to contest and negotiate biodiversity conservation in Colombian high Andean páramo ecosystems.

2023 Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Peningkatan Kesadaran Masyarakat Pesisir Pangandaran dalam Menangani Dampak Sampah di Lingkungan Pesisir

This Indonesian community engagement study aimed to raise awareness among coastal residents of Pangandaran about the impacts of plastic waste pollution on marine environments. Community education and behavior change are essential components of reducing the plastic waste that degrades into microplastics.

2021 Farmers Journal of Community Services 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Coastal Clean Up sebagai Upaya Penguatan Strategi Pengelolaan Kawasan Konservasi Pesisir dan Pulau-pulau Kecil (KKP3K) Paloh Kalimantan Barat

Researchers evaluated coastal clean-up activities as a strategy for strengthening conservation area management in Indonesia, examining how organized clean-up programs increased community engagement and improved plastic waste removal from protected coastal zones. The study found that participatory clean-ups built local stewardship and generated useful data on debris composition and distribution.

2024 Journal of Community and Development 1 citations