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61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Reconstructing the first record of historical microplastic accumulation from lake sediments in Aotearoa New Zealand: A case study at Lake Wiritoa.
ClearTracking the microplastic accumulation from past to present in the freshwater ecosystems: A case study in Susurluk Basin, Turkey
Researchers tracked the historical accumulation of microplastics in freshwater lake sediment cores, finding a steady increase in particle deposition corresponding to rising plastic production since the mid-20th century and demonstrating that sediment archives can reconstruct the timeline of freshwater microplastic pollution.
Centennial Records of Microplastics in Lake Cores in Huguangyan Maar Lake, China
Researchers analyzed lake sediment cores from Huguangyan Maar Lake in China to reconstruct a century-long record of microplastic pollution. They found that microplastic accumulation in the sediment closely tracked the history of global plastic production, with a sharp increase beginning in the mid-twentieth century. The study demonstrates that even isolated lakes without direct inlets can accumulate significant microplastic contamination, likely through atmospheric deposition.
Microplastics in Sediment Cores from Asia and Africa as Indicators of Temporal Trends in Plastic Pollution
By extracting microplastics from dated sediment cores in Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, and South Africa, researchers reconstructed the historical increase in plastic pollution over decades. The study shows that microplastic accumulation in sediments tracks the global rise in plastic production, making sediment cores a useful record of pollution history.
A temporal sediment record of microplastics in an urban lake, London, UK
Using a dated sediment core from a North London lake, researchers reconstructed a historical record of microplastic accumulation dating back to the 1960s, finding that microplastic concentrations increased steadily alongside broader trends in plastic production. This is one of the first studies to document the temporal accumulation of microplastics in an urban freshwater lake sediment.
A temporal record of microplastic accumulation in sediment cores of the Great Lakes, North America, reflects macroeconomic and regional influences
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from Lake Huron and Lake Ontario spanning several decades to track historical trends in microplastic accumulation in the Great Lakes. They found that microplastic levels increased steadily from the 1960s through the late 1980s, mirroring global plastic production rates, with subsequent fluctuations reflecting economic shifts and regional factors. The study demonstrates that lake sediment records can serve as proxies for tracking both global and local changes in plastic pollution over time.
Decadal changes in microplastic accumulation in freshwater sediments: Evaluating influencing factors
Researchers analyzed decadal trends in microplastic accumulation using freshwater sediment cores, examining how land use, hydrological factors, and global plastic production influenced deposition over time. Microplastic concentrations increased consistently across cores, with local factors modulating the rate of accumulation at individual sites.
Tracing the journey of microplastics in lake from surface water to accumulation in the sediments
Researchers conducted a comprehensive seasonal and historical study of microplastics in an urban lake in Latvia, using manta trawling for surface water, sediment coring with 210Pb dating for sediment archives, and sediment traps to assess deposition rates over one year. They found surface water concentrations peaked in summer at 5.71 particles per cubic meter, microplastic concentrations in recent sediments were 25 times higher than layers dating to 1924, and the annual deposition rate was approximately 9.47 particles per square centimeter per year.
Temporal distribution of microplastics and other anthropogenic particles in four marine species from the Atlantic coast (France)
Researchers examined how microplastic and other anthropogenic particle abundances in lake sediments have changed over time using sediment cores, linking increases to historical industrialization and urbanization. The temporal record provides context for understanding how plastic pollution has accelerated in recent decades.
Chronological evidence of microplastic accumulation and contamination onset in Central Baltic Sea sediments
Analysis of well-preserved Baltic Sea sediment cores revealed a 50-year chronological record of microplastic accumulation, showing contamination onset in the mid-20th century with accelerating deposition in recent decades.
Long-term deposition records of microplastics in a plateau lake under the influence of multiple natural and anthropogenic factors
Researchers reconstructed 70 years of microplastic deposition history in a plateau lake in China using sediment cores, finding a steady increase in microplastic abundance linked to both growing population and industrial development, with rayon fibers as the dominant polymer type.
Historical reconstruction of microplastic accumulation in shallow lake sediments and its anthropogenic drivers: A case study in Lake Liangzi
Scientists studied lake sediments in China and found that tiny plastic particles (microplastics) have been building up dramatically since the 1980s, with the biggest increases linked to plastic production, population growth, and urban development. This matters because microplastics in freshwater lakes can enter our drinking water and food chain, and this study shows the problem is getting much worse as human activities increase. The research provides clear evidence that our daily activities are the main cause of plastic pollution accumulating in the water sources we depend on.
Human activities affect the multidecadal microplastic deposition records in a subtropical urban lake, China
Researchers analyzed sediment cores from a subtropical urban lake in China to reconstruct 64 years of microplastic deposition history. They found that microplastic concentrations in the sediment increased significantly over the decades, correlating closely with urbanization, population growth, and economic development. The study provides evidence that human activities are the primary driver of long-term microplastic accumulation in freshwater lake environments.
Tracing the journey of microplastics in lake from surface water to accumulation in the sediments
Researchers conducted a comprehensive seasonal monitoring study of microplastics in an urban lake in Latvia, tracking distribution in surface water, measuring sediment deposition rates over one year, and analyzing dated sediment archives to determine which environmental compartment best represents long-term microplastic pollution trends. The study aimed to identify the most suitable monitoring matrix and establish standardized sampling protocols for freshwater microplastic research.
The Paleoecology of Microplastic Contamination
This paper reviews how paleoecological methods — using naturally accumulating environmental archives like sediment cores — can be applied to reconstruct the historical timeline of microplastic contamination. Long-term records are needed to establish baselines and understand how rapidly microplastic pollution has escalated over the past century.
Historical and current occurrence of microplastics in water and sediment of a Finnish lake affected by WWTP effluents
Researchers characterized microplastics in water and cesium-137-dated sediment cores from a Finnish lake sub-basin receiving wastewater treatment plant effluent. Microplastics were detected back to the 1970s in sediment records, and current concentrations in the lake reflected the wastewater treatment plant as the dominant local source.
The rapid increases in microplastics in urban lake sediments
Researchers used sediment cores from an urban lake in Wuhan, China, combined with high-resolution dating techniques, to track microplastic accumulation over the past 60 years. They found that microplastic abundance increased more than tenfold, from 741 to 7,707 items per kilogram, with fibers from textiles being the dominant type. The study suggests that microplastics could serve as geological markers of the Anthropocene era, similar to fossils in the sediment record.
Atmospheric Deposition Of Microplastics Recorded In Icelandic Lake Sediments: Estimating Microplastic Fluxes Using Short Sediment Cores
Researchers sampled sediment cores from six remote Icelandic crater lakes to estimate atmospheric microplastic deposition flux rates, finding that Iceland's position within major oceanic currents and weather patterns makes it a sentinel site for studying long-range Arctic-bound microplastic transport.
Benthic foraminifera in Gulf of Mexico show temporal and spatial dynamics of microplastics
Researchers used benthic foraminifera from sediment cores in the Gulf of Mexico to reconstruct the temporal and spatial dynamics of microplastic accumulation since plastic production began. The study found that microplastic concentrations in sediment records reflected the historical increase in global plastic production over recent decades.
Hidden plastics of Lake Ontario, Canada and their potential preservation in the sediment record
Researchers found plastic pellets in shoreline samples from Lake Ontario and showed that these particles are likely to be preserved in lake sediment, creating a potential geological record of plastic pollution. The study suggests that freshwater lake sediment cores could serve as archives for tracking the history of plastic contamination.
Anthropocene microplastic stratigraphy of Xiamen Bay, China: A history of plastic production and waste management
Researchers used a sediment core from Xiamen Bay, China to reconstruct the history of microplastic accumulation since 1952, finding that plastic pollution reflects historical events including the Cultural Revolution and rapid economic growth, with microplastic concentrations reaching 189,200 items/kg at their peak.
Tracing the Anthropocene through microplastic sedimentary records: Drivers and spatiotemporal heterogeneity in Baiyangdian Lake, North China
Scientists found that tiny plastic pieces in lake sediment can track how human activities have changed over the past 80 years, with plastic pollution spiking after dam construction in 1963 and again around 2000 due to increased development. The study shows that microplastics are now everywhere in our environment, even in protected nature areas, though at lower levels than in more developed zones. This matters because these tiny plastics can enter our food and water supply, and understanding where they accumulate most helps us better protect both ecosystems and human health.
Microplastics deposition in Arctic sediments of Greenland increases significantly after 1950
Analysis of a sediment core from Disko Bay, Greenland, spanning 85 years showed that microplastic deposition increased dramatically after 1950, directly tracking the global rise of plastic production, with concentrations ranging from about 1,000 to over 16,000 particles per kilogram at different depths. The record demonstrates that even remote Arctic seafloors have become a long-term sink for global plastic pollution, and that sediment cores can serve as historical archives of the plastic era.
A review of microplastic distribution in sediment profiles
A review of microplastic distribution in marine sediment cores found that between 70–90% of environmental MPs accumulate in sediment profiles and that dated sediment cores can reconstruct historical MP deposition trends, with one Kuwaiti Bay core showing a 5-fold increase from 1951 to 2009.
Plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a floodplain lake
Researchers surveyed macro-, meso-, and microplastic debris in a South American floodplain lake and found an average of 704 microplastic particles per square meter in sediments, with plastic contamination comparable to marine beaches — demonstrating that freshwater lakes can be major plastic pollution reservoirs.