Papers

61,005 results
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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 amount of microplastic ingested by fishes in watersheds of the Gulf of Mexico

Researchers quantified microplastic ingestion by fishes across several freshwater and estuarine watersheds of the Gulf of Mexico. The study documented widespread microplastic occurrence in fish from these environments, contributing important data about freshwater contamination at a time when most research had focused on marine ecosystems.

2015 Marine Pollution Bulletin 307 citations
Article Tier 2

The current state of microplastic pollution in the world's largest gulf and its future directions

This review critically assesses microplastic pollution research in the Gulf of Mexico, the world's largest gulf, covering 14 studies across water, sediment, and biota. Researchers found microplastic concentrations ranging widely across environmental compartments, with fragments being the most common shape and polyethylene the most prevalent polymer, and noted that 46 out of 100 fish species in the region are susceptible to microplastic ingestion.

2021 Environmental Pollution 54 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico: A Literature Review

This review synthesized available literature on microplastics in the Northern Gulf of Mexico, finding that water column concentrations appear below global averages while shoreline sediment concentrations are slightly above average. The authors note that fewer biological specimens in the region appear to contain microplastics but stress that data gaps remain significant and continued monitoring is needed.

2025 Microplastics
Article Tier 2

Coastal gradients of small microplastics and associated pollutants influenced by estuarine sources

Researchers sampled small microplastics in the Gulf of Cadiz at 5 m depth and found higher densities (130 mg/m3) than most other regions worldwide, with concentrations decreasing from the coastline outward and predominantly composed of polymer fragments between 45 and 193 μm.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 23 citations
Article Tier 2

First insight into plastics ingestion by fish in the Gulf of California, Mexico

Researchers found that 50% of 1,095 fish examined from 13 species in a tropical estuarine system in the Gulf of California had ingested plastic particles, with all recovered particles being threads and most being small microplastic fibres.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 29 citations
Article Tier 2

In situ microplastic ingestion by neritic zooplankton of the central Mexican Pacific

Researchers documented in situ microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in two bays of the central Mexican Pacific, finding that copepods, decapod larvae, and chaetognaths ingested microplastics, predominantly fibers, with higher rates during the rainy season.

2023 Environmental Pollution 33 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in three environmental compartments of a coastal lagoon in the southern Gulf of Mexico

Researchers documented microplastic contamination in water, sediment, and tiny marine animals in a protected lagoon in Mexico's Gulf coast. Even though the site has protected status, microplastics were found in all three environmental compartments, with polyester and acrylic fibers being the most common types. The study shows that even remote, protected waterways are not immune to microplastic pollution.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in sediments from the southern Gulf of Mexico: Abundance, distribution, composition, and adhered pollutants

Researchers analyzed microplastics in sediment samples from the southern Gulf of Mexico, covering over 26,000 square kilometers. They found an average of about 16 microplastic particles per kilogram of sediment, with fibers being the most common type, and detected heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adhered to the plastic surfaces. The study highlights how microplastics in ocean sediments can act as carriers of additional toxic pollutants, compounding environmental and health risks.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in surf zone waters of sandy beaches: Are copepods potential reservoirs of these emerging pollutants?

Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion by tiny zooplankton species in the surf zone of Atlantic beaches in southern Brazil. They found microplastics in the water at concentrations up to 1,750 items per cubic meter, with fibers being the most common type, and confirmed that copepods were ingesting these particles. The study suggests that zooplankton in turbulent nearshore waters may act as reservoirs that introduce microplastics into marine food webs.

2025 Environmental Pollution 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Ingestion of Microplastics by Zooplankton in the Northeast Pacific Ocean

Researchers collected zooplankton from the northeast Pacific Ocean and found microplastics ingested by multiple species, demonstrating that microplastic uptake occurs throughout the open ocean zooplankton community far from coastlines.

2015 Archives of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology 994 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics contamination in molluscs from the northern part of the Persian Gulf

Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in five species of mollusks from the northern Persian Gulf, including both gastropods and bivalves with different feeding strategies. They found microplastics in all species, with concentrations ranging from 0.2 to 21 particles per gram of soft tissue, and fibers were the most common type. The study indicates that microplastic contamination is widespread in Persian Gulf seafood and that filter-feeding organisms tend to accumulate more particles.

2017 Environmental Pollution 356 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic ingestion in zooplankton from the Fram Strait in the Arctic

Researchers found that all five zooplankton species examined in the Arctic Fram Strait had ingested microplastics, with polyester and polyamide fibers being the most common types, confirming widespread microplastic contamination at the base of the Arctic food web.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 127 citations
Article Tier 2

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.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seawater and zooplankton: A case study from Terengganu estuary and offshore waters, Malaysia

Researchers collected seawater and zooplankton samples from Malaysian estuarine and offshore waters and found microplastics in both matrices, with zooplankton containing MP at higher concentrations than surrounding water, suggesting active uptake rather than passive ingestion during feeding.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 152 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and composition of microplastics in Tampico beach sediments, Tamaulipas State, southern Gulf of Mexico

Researchers analyzed beach sediments from Tampico, Mexico, on the Gulf of Mexico coast and found microplastics present in all samples. The most common types were fragments and fibers made of polyethylene and polypropylene, and concentrations ranged from 256 to 2,830 particles per 20 grams of sediment. The study adds to growing evidence that microplastic contamination is widespread along Gulf of Mexico coastlines.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 61 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance And Characteristics of Microplastics Contaminating The Surface Water of The Inner Gulf of Thailand

Researchers collected surface water samples from 25 locations in the Inner Gulf of Thailand and found widespread microplastic contamination with varying concentrations and particle types. The study adds to regional evidence that the Gulf of Thailand is significantly impacted by microplastic pollution from both marine and land-based sources.

2021 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic occurrence in selected aquatic species of the Persian Gulf: No evidence of trophic transfer or effect of diet

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in six fish species, one mollusk, and three crustacean species from the Persian Gulf, finding no evidence of trophic transfer of microplastics or dietary effects on contamination levels across species.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 30 citations
Article Tier 2

Suspended microplastics in a highly polluted bay: Abundance, size, and availability for mesozooplankton

Researchers quantified suspended microplastics in Guanabara Bay, Brazil using different mesh size nets, finding high microplastic abundance and characterizing size distributions to assess the availability of plastic particles for ingestion by mesozooplankton as an entry point into the food web.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 92 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Kuwait marine environment: Results of first survey

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic pollution in Kuwait's coastal marine environment, sampling beach sediments, surface trawls, and fish and mussel gastrointestinal contents, and found surprisingly low microplastic levels compared to other global regions. The study provides baseline data for an understudied Gulf region and identifies priorities for future monitoring.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Extensive Microplastic Contamination in Southeastern Florida Forage Fishes

Forage fish from four coastal sites in southeastern Florida contained high levels of microplastics, with contamination levels comparable to or exceeding those in larger predatory species, highlighting the importance of lower trophic levels as vectors for plastic in marine food webs.

2024 Caribbean Journal of Science 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics in sediments from Norderney

Researchers surveyed sediments from Norderney in the North Sea and found widespread microplastic contamination, documenting spatial distribution patterns and particle characteristics across this tidally influenced coastal environment.

2014 Environmental Pollution 608 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment

Researchers examined the gastrointestinal tracts of commercial fish caught from a natural estuarine environment and found microplastics in a significant proportion of individuals, documenting both occurrence rates and particle characteristics.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 586 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