Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Mapping of marine litter on the seafloor using WASSP S3 multibeam echo sounder and Chasing M2 ROV

Researchers tested multibeam sonar and a remotely operated underwater vehicle (ROV) to map marine litter on the seafloor of a Croatian channel, finding the ROV effective for shallow-water debris detection but limited without proper navigation aids. This work advances techniques for locating plastic debris hotspots on the seabed, which is important because seafloor litter — including microplastic precursors — is largely invisible and understudied.

2023 Frontiers in Earth Science 10 citations
Article Tier 2

How to Deal With Seafloor Marine Litter: An Overview of the State-of-the-Art and Future Perspectives

This review examined the state of the art for detecting and removing marine litter from the seafloor, finding that while surface and beach litter has received substantial attention, seafloor litter remains understudied and that emerging technologies including underwater robotics offer promising future cleanup pathways.

2020 Frontiers in Marine Science 106 citations
Article Tier 2

A comparative study of marine litter on the seafloor of coastal areas in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas

Researchers surveyed seafloor litter density and composition across five sites in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Seas, finding plastic dominated in all areas (45–95% of items) with densities ranging from 24 to 1,211 items per square kilometer, and the Saronikos Gulf near Athens showing the heaviest contamination linked to local human activity and oceanographic conditions.

2014 Marine Pollution Bulletin 154 citations
Article Tier 2

Exploring the sea environment of the Gulf of Patras

Researchers conducted an educational project with secondary school students to study microplastic pollution in the Gulf of Patras, Greece, collecting seawater samples from shore, offshore, and river-mouth locations to document contamination patterns as part of an EU Erasmus environmental awareness program.

2025
Article Tier 2

Monitoring macro-litter and microplastics in the Venice coastal area (Italy): evaluation of their distribution and potential sources

Researchers evaluated marine litter contamination in the Venice coastal area using acoustic remote sensing for seafloor macro-litter mapping combined with microplastic concentration measurements across water, sediment, and mussel tissue matrices to assess distribution patterns and potential pollution sources.

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

Report of a robot competition on the problem of garbage in the sea and verification of learning effects

This report describes an underwater robot competition held in Japan focused on marine garbage collection as a way to engage students in ocean sustainability. The competition combined education about plastic pollution in the sea with hands-on robotics, promoting STEM learning alongside environmental awareness.

2023 Proceedings of International Conference on Artificial Life and Robotics
Article Tier 2

Improvement and Empirical Testing of a Novel Autonomous Microplastics-Collecting Semisubmersible

Researchers improved an autonomous microplastic-collecting robot, testing design modifications that enhanced sampling efficiency and navigation in surface water environments, moving toward practical automated monitoring of plastic pollution.

2024 arXiv (Cornell University)
Article Tier 2

Schools against plastics: Schooling environmentally conscious students and supporting research on marine litter and microplastics

A citizen science initiative engaged Greek students in monitoring plastic pollution on two coastal beaches, finding macrolitter densities of 0.6 to 5.9 items per square meter and microplastic concentrations of 4.6 to 102.5 particles per kilogram of sand. Single-use plastics, especially bottle caps and cigarette butts, made up over 25% of collected items, and microplastics were also found inside sea urchins at both sites. The project demonstrates that student participation can generate scientifically valuable pollution data while building environmental awareness.

2026 Marine Pollution Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Development of Garbage Collecting Robot for Marine Microplastics

Researchers designed and developed an autonomous cleaning robot for collecting marine microplastics scattered on beaches, using a conveyor belt and tray system to mechanically gather and retain small plastic particles. The study addresses the practical difficulty of manually collecting dispersed microplastics and demonstrates the robot's configuration and operational concept for beach remediation.

2024 The Proceedings of JSME annual Conference on Robotics and Mechatronics (Robomec)
Article Tier 2

Baseline study of the distribution of marine debris on soft-bottom habitats associated with trawling grounds in the northern Mediterranean

Researchers surveyed marine debris on soft seafloor habitats associated with trawling grounds across four areas of the northern Mediterranean, finding geographic variation in litter density and composition. The study also examined how organisms colonize plastic items on the seafloor, contributing to understanding of plastic as an artificial substrate in benthic ecosystems.

2013 Scientia Marina 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Monitoring macro-litter and microplastics in the Venice coastal area (Italy): evaluation of their distribution and potential sources

Researchers combined acoustic remote sensing to locate macro-litter on the seafloor and in the water column with microplastic sampling to evaluate marine litter contamination in the Venice coastal area of Italy. The integrated approach assessed distribution patterns, potential pollution sources, and the relationship between macro-litter and microplastic generation in a high-traffic coastal zone.

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

Marine Sediment Sampling With an Underwater Legged Robot: A User-Driven Sampling Approach for Microplastic Analysis

Researchers developed a novel marine sediment sampling system using an underwater legged robot designed specifically for microplastic assessment studies. The system was built to meet the requirements of marine biologists, allowing precise sediment collection at controlled depths with minimal disturbance, enabling more reliable and repeatable microplastic sampling in underwater environments.

2024 IEEE Robotics & Automation Magazine 14 citations
Article Tier 2

Towards Underwater Macroplastic Monitoring Using Echo Sounding

Researchers investigated using echo sounding (sonar) technology to detect and monitor underwater macroplastics in rivers and coastal environments, presenting this acoustic approach as a promising tool for measuring submerged plastic loads that surface trawling misses.

2021 Frontiers in Earth Science 47 citations
Review Tier 2

A Review of Recent Advances in Microplastic Research and ROVs to Aid the Development of an Integrated Solution for Microplastic Pollution

This review examines recent advances in microplastic detection and filtration research alongside remotely operated vehicle (ROV) technology, with the goal of developing integrated solutions for microplastic pollution in aquatic environments. Researchers found that combining advanced detection methods with underwater robotic platforms offers a promising pathway for real-world microplastic monitoring and removal, particularly in deep or inaccessible marine and freshwater systems.

2025 International Journal for Research in Applied Science and Engineering Technology
Article Tier 2

Anthropic pressure due to lost fishing gears and marine litter on different rhodolith beds off the Campania Coast (Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy)

Researchers conducted a quantitative assessment of lost fishing gear and marine litter on rhodolith beds off the Campania coast of the Tyrrhenian Sea using remotely operated vehicle surveys, documenting the type and density of anthropogenic debris on these internationally protected benthic habitats. The study found significant accumulation of fishing gear and plastic litter on deep rhodolith beds, highlighting the impact of anthropogenic pressure on poorly explored but ecologically important Mediterranean seabed communities.

2020 Ecological Questions 25 citations
Article Tier 2

What, where, and when: Spatial-temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor of the western and central Mediterranean sea

Using fishery-independent monitoring data from the western Mediterranean, this study characterized the spatial and temporal distribution of macro-litter on the seafloor, identifying accumulation hotspots to guide marine litter management efforts.

2023 Environmental Pollution 17 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastics distribution and stratification in the shallow marine sediments of Samos island, Eastern Mediterranean sea, Greece

Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in shallow marine sediments around Samos Island, Greece, finding the highest concentrations on beaches and lower levels in deeper offshore sediments. The study suggests that beaches act as accumulation zones for microplastic pollution carried from land.

2019 Mediterranean Marine Science 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of Garbage Collecting Robot for Marine Microplastics

This paper describes the design of a robot intended to collect microplastics from beaches, addressing the practical challenge that hand collection of scattered, tiny plastic particles is impractical at scale. Laboratory experiments characterized how sand behaves under the robot's excavation mechanism, providing engineering data for building autonomous marine microplastic cleanup devices.

2024 3 citations
Article Tier 2

A Spiral-Propulsion Amphibious Intelligent Robot for Land Garbage Cleaning and Sea Garbage Cleaning

Not relevant to microplastics research; this paper presents the design and testing of an amphibious robot capable of collecting garbage from beaches, tidal flats, and the ocean surface, but does not analyze microplastic pollution specifically.

2023 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 13 citations
Article Tier 2

The quest for seafloor macrolitter: a critical review of background knowledge, current methods and future prospects

This critical review examined knowledge, current practices, and challenges in studying macrolitter on the seafloor, the least-investigated sink for marine debris. The seafloor covers 70% of Earth's surface and receives substantial plastic input, yet most of it lies in the deep sea where monitoring is technically difficult and expensive.

2020 Environmental Research Letters 164 citations
Article Tier 2

Ecología robótica desde el litoral: resultados de un programa fortalecedor de las habilidades para la ciencia

A STEAM-based robotics program was used with students on coastal beaches to study and address the problem of shoreline plastic waste. The program combined science education with hands-on environmental monitoring, demonstrating that educational robotics can help raise awareness about marine litter among young people.

2023 PUBLICACIONES 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Development of Garbage Collecting Robot for Marine Microplastics

Researchers developed a garbage-collecting robot designed to remove plastic debris from coastal areas before it degrades into microplastics, addressing the logistical challenge of cleaning extensive shorelines with minimal human labor and resources.

2025 The Proceedings of JSME annual Conference on Robotics and Mechatronics (Robomec)
Article Tier 2

Marine Litter Distribution and Density in European Seas, from the Shelves to Deep Basins

Researchers mapped marine litter distribution and density across European seas — from shallow shelves to deep basins — finding litter present at all depths and in all regions surveyed, with deep-sea areas accumulating significant loads.

2014 PLoS ONE 678 citations
Article Tier 2

Marine plastic pollution in kindergarten as a means of engaging toddlers with STEM education and educational robotics

This paper explores using marine plastic pollution as a topic to engage preschool children with STEM education and robotics through experiential learning. Environmental topics like plastic pollution can serve as motivating contexts for early science and technology education.

2022 Advances in Mobile Learning Educational Research 6 citations