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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Measuring plastic pellet (nurdle) abundance on shorelines throughout the Gulf of Mexico using citizen scientists: Establishing a platform for policy-relevant research
ClearUsing citizen science to understand floating plastic debris distribution and abundance: A case study from the North Cornish coast (United Kingdom).
This citizen science study used a standardized methodology to monitor floating plastic debris off the Cornish coast of the UK, finding microplastic concentrations comparable to or higher than other European coastal regions. The study demonstrates that citizen science can generate useful, standardized data on plastic pollution in coastal waters.
The sampling and analysis of coastal microplastic and mesoplastic: Development of a citizen science approach
This study designed, developed, and tested a citizen science approach to microplastic and mesoplastic data collection on coastal beaches to address scale and coverage limitations of traditional research methods. Results showed non-expert participants could collect comparable data to researchers, expanding monitoring capacity across undersampled coastlines.
The potential contribution of citizen science data in the study of coastal microplastic and mesoplastic distributions
Researchers analyzed citizen science data from the Big Microplastic Survey to assess the potential contribution of volunteer-collected observations to understanding coastal microplastic and mesoplastic distribution patterns, evaluating data quality and spatial coverage relative to conventional scientific monitoring.
Citizen Science for Assessment of Microplastics on Beaches: A Case Study in Mexico
Researchers used a citizen science approach involving 26 volunteers to assess microplastic abundance and type on Mexican beaches, providing broad geographic coverage at lower cost than traditional monitoring. Participants used standardized materials and training to collect and identify microplastics, generating a representative database that also raised public awareness of coastal plastic pollution.
Paddle surfing for science on microplastic pollution: a successful citizen science initiative
Researchers used paddle surfers as citizen scientists to collect microplastic samples from near-shore coastal waters in the Mediterranean Sea, filling a gap in data from areas close to the coastline. The study demonstrates how citizen science can expand microplastic monitoring to locations that are difficult to access with conventional research vessels.
Microplastic detectives: a citizen-science project reveals large variation in meso- and microplastic pollution along German coastlines
A citizen science project recruited volunteers to sample meso- and microplastics along German Baltic and North Sea coastlines, achieving spatial coverage far beyond what scientific teams alone could accomplish. Large variation in plastic pollution was found across sites, with some areas showing unexpectedly high concentrations linked to local sources and ocean circulation patterns.
SeaCleaner Pellets Watch: citizen science approach to collect data and raise awareness on resin pellet problem in EU.
Researchers developed the SeaCleaner Pellets Watch citizen science initiative in Italy to engage the public in monitoring and reporting resin pellet microplastics on EU coastlines, collecting systematic distribution data and raising awareness of these industrial plastic intermediates as a pervasive marine pollution problem.
Plastic Pellets in the Sandy Sediment of Beaches on the Middle Coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
This study evaluated plastic pellet (nurdle) abundance in beach sediments along the middle coast of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil — a region with low urbanization — and examined how proximity to the port of Rio Grande affected pellet density. Pellets are pre-production plastic granules that escape into the environment during manufacture and transport, and serve as a direct indicator of industrial plastic pollution pathways.
Occurrence, distribution, and associated pollutants of plastic pellets (nurdles) in coastal areas of South Texas.
Plastic pellets (nurdles) were found at 24 sites along the south Texas coast, and analysis revealed they accumulated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and other chemical pollutants from their environment. Nurdles act as concentrators and vectors for toxic chemicals, raising concerns for marine life and human health in coastal communities.
Floating microplastic loads in the nearshore revealed through citizen science
Researchers used citizen science manta trawl deployments across 124 transects in the NW Mediterranean to characterize floating microplastic loads in nearshore coastal waters, finding substantial plastic pollution concentrated close to shore where emissions are highest.
Accuracy of a Simple Microplastics Investigation Method on Sandy Beaches
This study tested a simplified citizen science method for monitoring microplastic pollution on sandy beaches, evaluating its accuracy compared to standard research methods. Reliable citizen science approaches could dramatically expand the geographic coverage of microplastic monitoring beyond what professional researchers alone can achieve.
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.
Determining global distribution of microplastics by combining citizen science and in-depth case studies
This study combined citizen science sampling data with in-depth field studies to build a better global picture of microplastic distribution. The approach shows how large-scale volunteer monitoring can extend spatial coverage far beyond what professional researchers can achieve alone.
Microplastic Pollution in the Coast of Tarragona, Spain: A Western Mediterranean Study
Researchers, including students as part of a citizen science project, collected and analyzed water and sand samples along the Tarragona coast of Spain, finding that tiny microplastics under 3mm dominated sea water samples and that plastic pellets — called nurdles — made up over half the anthropogenic waste by weight found in beach sand. The study highlights significant microplastic contamination in a Western Mediterranean coastal zone.
Making citizen science count: Best practices and challenges of citizen science projects on plastics in aquatic environments
This paper reviews best practices and challenges for citizen science projects focused on plastic pollution in aquatic environments, finding that while citizen science can effectively gather large-scale data and raise public awareness, data quality and consistency remain significant challenges.
Citizen Science for Monitoring Plastic Pollution from Source to Sea: A Systematic Review of Methodologies, Best Practices, and Challenges
This systematic review examines how citizen science programs track plastic pollution from land to sea. The research found that while public participation greatly expands data collection, inconsistent methods and data quality issues limit the scientific usefulness of the results. Better-designed citizen science programs could help communities monitor and respond to the microplastic pollution in their local environments.
The Surfing for Science citizen science project: 5 years monitoring floating microplastics in the nearshore
Researchers reported five years of citizen science microplastic monitoring data from the Surfing for Science project, in which trained surfers and paddlers towed specially designed manta trawls in nearshore waters along the northern and northeastern Iberian Peninsula and Balearic Islands to track floating microplastic abundance and origin.
The sink is leaking! – Enabling citizen science for global mapping of microplastic leakage from coastal soils
Researchers developed a citizen science framework for globally mapping microplastic leakage from coastal soils to marine environments, proposing standardized protocols that enable the public to document how microplastics transition from the terrestrial soil sink to ocean pathways via wind, wave, and current transport.
SeaCleaner Pellets Watch: citizen science approach to collect data and raise awareness on resin pellet problem in EU.
Researchers developed the SeaCleaner Pellets Watch citizen science program within the EU SeaCleaner project to systematically collect data on resin pellet distribution in the marine environment, engaging the public to map and monitor these first-generation industrial microplastics and raise awareness of their widespread oceanic presence from equator to poles.
Citizen Science and Data Integration for Understanding Marine Litter
This paper reviews how citizen science and data integration can improve understanding of marine litter distribution and environmental impacts, filling data gaps that professional research cannot cover at ocean scale. Community-based monitoring has proven especially valuable for tracking how plastic debris moves along coastlines and accumulates in specific areas.
The sink is leaking! – Enabling citizen science for global mapping of microplastic leakage from coastal soils
Researchers designed a citizen science methodology to enable global mapping of microplastic leakage from coastal soils, providing standardized tools for volunteers to sample and quantify how coastal soil microplastic sinks release particles to marine environments through abiotic and biotic decomposition of macroplastics.
Quantification and Characterisation of Pre-Production Pellet Pollution in the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai, Aotearoa-New Zealand
Researchers surveyed pre-production plastic pellet (nurdle) pollution in a New Zealand estuary, finding these raw plastic manufacturing feedstocks contaminating an important wildlife habitat. Nurdle spills are a significant but often overlooked source of microplastic contamination in coastal ecosystems.
Volunteer microplastic sampling in Puget Sound: strategies for broad inclusion, education, and research
This paper describes a volunteer microplastic sampling program in Puget Sound, Washington, examining strategies for community participation and data quality in citizen science monitoring of marine plastic pollution. The program demonstrates how broad public involvement can generate spatially extensive environmental data at low cost.
Advancing Citizen Science for Coastal and Ocean Research
This position paper promotes citizen science as a powerful tool for marine research, especially for the large-scale data collection needed to monitor ocean pollution including microplastics. Citizen science programs have already contributed significant data on plastic debris distribution in coastal and offshore waters.