Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution patterns and identification of microplastics on intertidal sediments from urban and semi-natural SW Atlantic estuaries

Microplastic spatial distribution and polymer types were mapped in intertidal sediments of Portuguese estuaries, environments that act as transition zones between rivers and the sea. The study found both buoyant and non-buoyant microplastics accumulating in estuarine sediments, highlighting their role as microplastic sinks.

2021 Environmental Pollution 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic fragment and fiber contamination of beach sediments from selected sites in Virginia and North Carolina, USA

This study examined microplastic contamination in estuarine and barrier island beach sediments in Virginia and North Carolina, USA, finding microplastics present at all 17 sites sampled. Fragment and fiber morphologies dominated, with polymer identification by pyrolysis-GC-MS and FTIR confirming a mix of common plastic types.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in beach sediments: Insights into microplastic accumulation in northern Gulf of Mexico estuaries

Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance in beach sediments across seven locations in Mobile Bay, a northern Gulf of Mexico estuary. The study found microplastics were ubiquitous at concentrations 66 to 253 times higher than reported for the open ocean, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the most common polymers, highlighting the extent of microplastic accumulation in estuarine environments.

2016 Marine Pollution Bulletin 310 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics at selected coastal sites along the southeastern United States

Researchers quantified microplastics in beach sand at 18 U.S. National Park beaches in the Southeast and built a model to predict how ocean currents transport plastic debris. The study provides a baseline for plastic contamination even in protected coastal areas and highlights how distant pollution sources can affect remote beaches.

2017 The Science of The Total Environment 228 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

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in marine sediments from coastal and offshore in South Korea

Researchers conducted an intensive survey of microplastic distribution and characterization in marine sediments from coastal areas, confirming the seafloor as a long-term sink for plastic pollution. Contamination was highest near urban coastlines, with fibers and fragments accumulating preferentially in low-energy depositional environments.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Characterization and distribution of microplastics in estuarine surface sediments, Kayamkulam estuary, southwest coast of India

Microplastic characterization in surface sediments of the Kayamkulam estuary in southwestern India found fibers and fragments dominated by polyethylene and polypropylene, establishing a pollution baseline for this ecologically important wetland.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 89 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution and characterization of microplastics in marine sediments from coastal and offshore in South Korea

Researchers conducted an intensive survey of microplastic levels and distribution in marine sediments from coastal areas, recognizing the seafloor as the ultimate repository for plastic particles. Microplastic concentrations in sediments were highest near urban and industrial coastlines, with fibers and fragments as the most common types.

2024 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research)
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in mangrove and beach sediments on southeast Florida barrier islands

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastic abundance, distribution, and variation in estuarine mangrove and beach sediments across southeast Florida barrier islands. The study aimed to improve understanding of microplastic hazards in these coastal ecosystems to support conservation efforts for mangrove and beach environments.

2025 Shore & Beach
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and dynamics of microplastics and emerging concern microparticles in coastal sediments: Impact of stormwater upgrade and port-associated facilities

Researchers monitored microplastics in coastal sediments near a stormwater outfall and port facilities in the southwestern Atlantic, tracking how a stormwater system upgrade affected particle transport over time. The study confirms that both urban runoff and port activities are significant sources of microplastic pollution in coastal sediments, and that infrastructure changes can influence contamination levels.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics Baseline Surveys at the Water Surface and in Sediments of the North-East Atlantic

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations at the sea surface and in sediments across the southern North Sea and northwestern Europe, finding highly variable but widespread contamination. Sediments contained far higher concentrations than surface waters, confirming that the seafloor acts as a major sink for microplastic pollution.

2017 Frontiers in Marine Science 308 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in coastal sediments from Southern Portuguese shelf waters

Microplastics were found in coastal sediments collected from southern Portuguese shelf waters, with the highest concentrations near river mouths and populated coastal areas. The study provides baseline data for this Atlantic European coastline and reinforces the pattern that proximity to human settlements drives sediment microplastic loading.

2015 Marine Environmental Research 356 citations
Article Tier 2

Ubiquity of microplastics in coastal seafloor sediments

Researchers applied a novel method to quantify microplastic concentrations in seafloor sediments from 42 coastal sites across southeastern Australia. They found microplastics in all samples at an average concentration of 3.4 particles per milliliter of sediment, predominantly as filaments. The study demonstrates that microplastic contamination of coastal seafloor sediments is ubiquitous and that hydrological and sediment properties influence deposition patterns.

2017 Marine Pollution Bulletin 200 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic in three urban estuaries, China

Researchers surveyed three urban estuaries in China and found microplastics throughout, with concentrations and types reflecting the combined influence of surrounding city density, stormwater runoff, and tidal mixing.

2015 Environmental Pollution 696 citations
Article Tier 2

Distribution, compositional characteristics, and historical pollution records of microplastics in tidal flats of South Korea

Researchers investigated spatial and vertical distributions of microplastics in tidal flat sediments along the west coast of South Korea, finding distinct patterns in abundance and polymer composition linked to proximity to urban centers and tidal hydrodynamics.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards Characterising Microplastic Abundance, Typology and Retention in Mangrove-Dominated Estuaries

Microplastic pollution levels, morphotype diversity, and polymer composition were compared across four South African estuaries, finding that open estuaries with high surrounding population densities and diverse land use had the highest MP contamination, with microfibres dominating in all systems.

2020 Water 101 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination and characterization of microplastics in different sediments of the river estuaries (the inner Gulf of Thailand)

Researchers measured microplastic contamination in river estuary sediments in the inner Gulf of Thailand, finding widespread contamination at all sites. The study characterizes the types and abundance of microplastics in a highly trafficked coastal region of Southeast Asia.

2019
Article Tier 2

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastic abundance and types were quantified in beach sediments and seawater across nine sites along 42 km of Sri Lanka's western coast, documenting widespread contamination in estuarine and coastal environments.

2024 Preprints.org 4 citations
Article Tier 2

The Prevalence of Microplastics in Water and Sediment Collected from Vellar Estuary in South India

Microplastic contamination was assessed in water and sediment samples from Vellar Estuary in Tamil Nadu, South India, finding widespread MP presence with fibres and fragments most common. The study identified this coastal estuary as significantly impacted by microplastic pollution from adjacent urban and industrial activities.

2024 UTTAR PRADESH JOURNAL OF ZOOLOGY
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in brazilian marine environments: a study on beaches in São Francisco do Sul - SC

Beach surveys along São Francisco do Sul in southern Brazil confirmed widespread microplastic presence in coastal sediments, with polymer composition reflecting regional plastic waste streams. The study adds to the body of evidence that Brazilian coastlines are significantly contaminated and calls for national monitoring standards to track and manage the problem.

2023 LA Referencia (Red Federada de Repositorios Institucionales de Publicaciones Científicas)
Article Tier 2

Sampling microplastics in estuarine environments: lessons learned from suspended sediment dynamics and perspectives.

This paper reviews the challenges of sampling microplastics in estuaries, where tidal flows and suspended sediment make collection methods complex and inconsistent. The authors call for standardized protocols that account for the unique dynamics of estuarine environments to improve comparability across studies.

2023
Article Tier 2

Microplastics pollution in sediments of the Thames and Medway estuaries, UK: Organic matter associations and predominance of polyethylene

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in sediments along the Thames and Medway estuaries in the UK. They found the highest concentrations in urban London, with polyethylene being the most common polymer type, and microplastic abundance was strongly correlated with organic carbon content in the sediment. The study identifies urbanization and combined sewer overflows as key drivers of microplastic accumulation in these estuarine environments.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 18 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Tampa Bay, Florida: Abundance and variability in estuarine waters and sediments

This study provided the first systematic measurements of microplastic abundance and distribution in Tampa Bay, Florida, finding microplastics in both surface water and sediments throughout the estuary, with higher concentrations near urban areas. The data establish baseline contamination levels for one of Florida's largest estuaries and identify stormwater and wastewater as key sources.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 168 citations
Meta Analysis Tier 1

Identification of the driving factors of microplastic load and morphology in estuaries for improving monitoring and management strategies: A global meta-analysis

Across 1,477 observations from 124 estuaries worldwide, microplastic abundance averaged 21,342 items/m3 in water and 1,313 items/kg in sediment, with about 69-86% of particles smaller than 1 mm. Population density and mismanaged plastic waste drove water contamination, while 47% of estuarine water and 73% of sediment samples reached the highest potential ecological risk category.

2023 Environmental Pollution 15 citations