Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance in the semi-enclosed Osaka Bay, Japan

Researchers quantified microplastic abundance in the semi-enclosed Osaka Bay, Japan, finding elevated concentrations near river mouths and urban coastal zones, and characterizing dominant polymer types consistent with consumer plastics.

2024 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Micro- and mesoplastic contaminants in marine diving ducks: A first assessments from the coast of Japan

Researchers conducted the first assessment of plastic contamination in two species of mollusk-eating seaducks wintering along Japan's Pacific coast and found microplastics in all ten birds examined. The vast majority of particles were tiny fragments under 200 micrometers, a size class previously overlooked in seaduck studies, suggesting these birds ingest microplastics primarily through their contaminated prey.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

A Field Investigate on Curent Status of Microplastic Pollution on Sandy Beaches of Osaka Bay, Japan

Researchers investigated microplastic pollution on sandy beaches across Osaka Bay, Japan, sampling 13 coastal sites and finding concentrations ranging from 50 to 9,500 particles per square meter with most accumulation above the maximum monthly high-tide line. The study found that the innermost areas of the bay had markedly higher contamination, averaging 253-313 particles per square meter compared to a bay-wide mean of 52 particles per square meter.

2024 Japanese Journal of JSCE
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by sea turtles around Tokyo Bay: Level of water pollution influences ingestion amounts

Researchers examined the stomach contents of sea turtles found inside and outside Tokyo Bay and found that turtles in the more polluted bay area ingested significantly more microplastics. The microplastics were linked to pollution flowing in from major rivers that empty into the bay. The study demonstrates a direct connection between regional water pollution levels and microplastic ingestion in marine wildlife.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic volumes in Tokyo Bay

Researchers quantified microplastic volumes across multiple sites in Tokyo Bay, Japan, finding spatial variation linked to urban runoff and river inputs, with surface waters and sediments showing distinct accumulation patterns.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

An integrated assessment of microplastic pollution in coastal surface water and sediment of Japan

Researchers conducted a comprehensive survey of microplastic pollution across 14 coastal locations around Japan from Hokkaido to Okinawa, measuring concentrations of 288.7 g/km2 in surface water and 1,185 kg/km2 in sediment and characterizing polymer types, shapes, and size distributions.

2025
Article Tier 2

Contamination of sea surface water offshore the Tokai region and Tokyo Bay in Japan by small microplastics

Surface water off the Tokai region and within Tokyo Bay, Japan, was sampled with a nested net system distinguishing small microplastics (under 350 micrometers) from larger microplastics. Small microplastic concentrations were 20 to 60 times higher than larger ones, with concentrations up to 5,900 pieces per cubic meter in Tokyo Bay's inner waters.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Coupling of microplastic contamination in organisms and the environment: Evidence from the tidal flat ecosystem of Hangzhou Bay, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination across the tidal flat ecosystem of Hangzhou Bay, China, examining both sediment and organisms. They found that microplastic characteristics in organisms closely mirrored those in the surrounding environment, indicating a tight coupling between environmental and biological contamination. The study provides evidence that estuarine ecosystems serve as key pathways for terrestrial microplastics entering the ocean.

2023 Journal of Hazardous Materials 22 citations
Article Tier 2

An Integrated Assessmentof Microplastic Pollutionin Coastal Surface Water and Sediment of Japan

Researchers conducted an integrated assessment of microplastic pollution in coastal surface water and sediment around Japan, providing a comprehensive dataset that clarifies the extent of contamination in Japanese coastal areas previously lacking systematic monitoring data.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Survey in Osaka Bay

Researchers measured microplastic density at two locations in Osaka Bay in September and December 2019, finding peak concentrations of 4.1 particles per cubic meter after heavy rainfall — far exceeding 2015 reference levels — with seasonal variation in particle types including artificial turf and fertilizer capsules.

2024 Journal of Japan Society on Water Environment
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characterization of microplastics in amphipods from the Japanese coastal environment

Researchers found high levels of microplastic ingestion in coastal amphipods from Japan, with up to 76 particles per individual and 83% of particles smaller than 90 µm, predominantly polyethylene, raising concerns about microplastic transfer through coastal food webs.

2023 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance, characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics from South Yellow Sea Mudflat

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the mudflats of the South Yellow Sea and found plastic particles in both the water and sediment at all sampling locations. Areas near estuaries and ports had higher levels of microplastics in the water, while purely coastal mudflats accumulated more in their sediments. Although overall pollution levels were rated as low, the types of plastic polymers present indicated the potential for significant ecological risk.

2024 The Science of The Total Environment 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Pollution in the Seto Inland Sea and Sea of Japan Surrounded Yamaguchi Prefecture Areas, Japan: Abundance, Characterization and Distribution, and Potential Occurrences

Microplastic contamination in the Seto Inland Sea and Sea of Japan surrounding Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan was found at levels comparable to other polluted regions worldwide. Fragments and small microplastics dominated, suggesting local degradation of larger plastic items as the primary source.

2020 Journal of Water and Environment Technology 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in invertebrates on soft shores in Hong Kong: Influence of habitat, taxa and feeding mode

Researchers surveyed microplastic occurrence in 38 invertebrate species across 18 mudflats and sandy beaches in Hong Kong, finding that feeding mode and habitat type were stronger predictors of microplastic ingestion than taxonomic group, with suspension feeders in mudflat environments showing the highest contamination. The study provides a broad baseline for microplastic uptake across coastal invertebrate communities.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and size distribution of microplastics in mudflat sediments of the Cowichan-Koksilah Estuary, Canada: A baseline for plastic particles contamination in an anthropogenic-influenced estuary

Researchers established baseline microplastic contamination levels in mudflat sediments of the Cowichan-Koksilah Estuary in Canada, documenting particle size distributions and polymer types in this ecologically important habitat for shellfish, fish, and birds.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 30 citations
Article Tier 2

The distribution and ecological effects of microplastics in an estuarine ecosystem

Researchers surveyed 22 intertidal sites and found that microplastic abundance, size, and diversity correlated with benthic microalgal communities and sediment biostabilization properties in an estuarine ecosystem.

2021 Environmental Pollution 36 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion and translocation of microplastics in tissues of deposit-feeding crabs (Grapsoidea, Ocypodoidea) in Kochi estuary, Japan

More than half of 116 intertidal crabs collected from a Japanese estuary contained microplastics, with PET fragments dominating and particles concentrated primarily in the gut. Smaller deposit-feeding crab species carried a higher microplastic burden relative to body weight than larger omnivorous species, showing that feeding behavior and body size both shape how much plastic wildlife accumulates in contaminated estuaries.

2023 Marine Environmental Research 8 citations
Article Tier 2

PCBs and PBDEs in microplastic particles and zooplankton in open water in the Pacific Ocean and around the coast of Japan

Researchers measured PCBs and PBDEs in microplastics and zooplankton collected from 27 locations across the Pacific Ocean and around Japan's coast. Both pollutant classes were detected in buoyant microplastics, even in particles smaller than 1 millimeter, with PCB concentrations highest in urban bays like Tokyo Bay. The study identified threshold ratios of microplastic-to-zooplankton abundance above which pollutant exposure from microplastics would exceed that from zooplankton.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 150 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution of Microplastics in Coastal Waters and Their Implications for the Marine Food Chain

Researchers sampled surface water, sediments, and marine organisms from urban, industrial, and conservation coastal zones in Indonesia to assess microplastic distribution and food chain implications. Industrial zones had the highest microplastic concentrations, and filter feeders accumulated more particles than fin fish, indicating distinct exposure pathways through the marine food web.

2025 Aquapolis.
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Feeding and Vital Function of Bivalves Mercenaria Mercenaria in Coastal Zone of Tokyo Bay

Researchers investigated microplastic abundance in coastal sediments of Tokyo Bay and examined the relationship between microplastic ingestion and the physiology of the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria at Yatsu Tidal Flat. Feeding experiments found that clams expelled microplastics in pseudofeces rather than retaining them in tissue, but microplastic exposure increased filtration volume, suggesting effects on vital physiological functions.

2024 Japanese Journal of JSCE
Article Tier 2

Comprehensive Understanding of Microplastics Inflow Off the Coast of Funabashi

Researchers conducted continuous monitoring of microplastic (MP) contamination in rivers, sewage, and coastal waters around Funabashi in Tokyo Bay, finding that MP number densities showed high temporal variability and a gradual decreasing trend, with upstream river sources driving contamination that diminished toward the sea as particles settled into bottom sediments, while sewage was also implicated as a contributor to marine MP pollution.

2025 Japanese Journal of JSCE
Article Tier 2

Dynamics of microplastic transport and accumulation in a rural coastal area: Insights from the Otsuchi Bay, a small ria in Sanriku, Japan

Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation in the sediments of Otsuchi Bay, a small rural ria on Japan's Pacific coast, finding concentrations of 2.6-13.6 particles per gram dry weight and noting that particles smaller than 1000 µm accounted for 96.3% of all MPs. A two-dimensional numerical model revealed that MP distribution in the bay is governed by particle size, density, tidal oscillating currents, and vertical terminal velocity.

2023 Regional Studies in Marine Science 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic characteristics in organisms of different trophic levels from Liaohe Estuary, China

Researchers collected organisms from multiple trophic levels at Liaohe Estuary, China, and measured microplastic ingestion across primary consumers, secondary consumers, and top predators, finding that MP abundance did not increase consistently with trophic level, suggesting complex feeding and depuration dynamics.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 125 citations
Article Tier 2

The availability and ingestion of microplastics by an intertidal fish is dependent on urban proximity

A New Zealand study found that microplastic levels in intertidal sediments and in fish digestive tracts increased significantly with proximity to urban areas, with fish near Dunedin city having measurably more plastic ingestion than those at rural sites. This demonstrates that urban runoff is a key driver of local microplastic contamination and that wildlife exposure tracks human population density.

2024 New Zealand Journal of Marine and Freshwater Research 2 citations