Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Influence of marine habitat on microplastic prevalence in forage fish and salmon in the Salish Sea

Scientists examined microplastic ingestion in forage fish and juvenile salmon across different marine habitats in the Salish Sea of the Pacific Northwest. They found that fish from nearshore urban areas had more microplastics in their stomachs than those from offshore or less developed areas. The results suggest that habitat type and proximity to human activity are important predictors of microplastic exposure in marine food webs.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Extent of microplastics in Pacific Sand Lance burying habitat in the Salish Sea

This study assessed microplastic concentrations in sandy habitat used by Pacific sand lance in the Salish Sea, finding widespread contamination. Sand lance are a key forage fish species, and microplastic contamination in their habitat raises concerns about effects on the broader coastal food web including marine mammals and seabirds.

2018 Western CEDAR (Western Washington University) 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in juvenile Chinook salmon and their nearshore environments on the east coast of Vancouver Island

Researchers investigated microplastic ingestion in juvenile Chinook salmon and their nearshore marine environments on the east coast of Vancouver Island, finding microplastics present in both fish digestive tracts and surrounding waters and characterizing the types of particles consumed.

2018 Environmental Pollution 94 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance of microplastics in intertidal and subtidal regions: A) sediments and B) water.

This study presents abundance data for microplastics in both intertidal and subtidal regions, comparing concentrations in sediment and water across habitat zones.

2025 Figshare
Article Tier 2

Environmental implications of microplastic pollution in the Northwestern Pacific Ocean

Researchers assessed microplastic concentrations, distribution, and characteristics across the Northwestern Pacific Ocean, finding widespread contamination with significant spatial variation and identifying environmental implications for marine ecosystems in this understudied region.

2019 Marine Pollution Bulletin 94 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

Microplastics in bivalves and their habitat in relation to shellfish aquaculture proximity in coastal British Columbia, Canada

Researchers compared microplastic concentrations in Manila clams and Pacific oysters grown at commercial shellfish aquaculture sites versus reference beaches in coastal British Columbia, finding that proximity to aquaculture operations influenced microplastic levels in both bivalves and surrounding sediments.

2019 Aquaculture Environment Interactions 105 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and distribution of microplastics within surface sediments of a key shellfish growing region of Canada

Microplastics were found across all sediment size classes at shellfish farming sites in British Columbia, Canada, with higher concentrations in finer sediment fractions. The results raise concerns for the safety of bivalves grown in this region and for the broader health of one of Canada's most productive shellfish aquaculture areas.

2018 PLoS ONE 74 citations
Article Tier 2

Presence of microplastics in water, sediments and fish species in an urban coastal environment of Fiji, a Pacific small island developing state

Researchers conducted the first assessment of microplastic levels in surface water, sediments, and fish from the urban coastal environment of Suva, Fiji. The study confirmed the presence of microplastics across all three matrices in this Pacific small island developing state, and evaluated contributions from local sources including wastewater, highlighting that microplastic pollution affects even remote island nations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 175 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic abundance, distribution and composition in the mid-west Pacific Ocean

Researchers surveyed microplastic abundance, distribution, and composition across the mid-west Pacific Ocean, an area with previously limited data, finding widespread contamination across sampled stations. The dominant particle types were fibers and fragments, with concentrations varying by location and depth.

2020 Environmental Pollution 250 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

Physical and anthropogenic drivers shaping the spatial distribution of microplastics in the marine sediments of Chilean fjords

Researchers examined microplastic distribution in marine sediments across 35 stations in Chilean Patagonian fjords. The study found microplastics in all samples, averaging 72.2 items per kilogram of dry sediment, with about 40% of the variability in distribution explained by ocean current velocity combined with proximity and intensity of local salmon farming activities.

2021 The Science of The Total Environment 73 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessing the bioaccumulation of microplastics in commercially important fish species

Researchers assessed microplastic accumulation in commercially important fish species from coastal and offshore waters, finding significant differences between species based on feeding strategies and habitat depth. Filter feeders and omnivorous species accumulated more microplastics than others, reflecting diet-based differences across trophic levels. The study raises concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through widely consumed seafood products.

2025 International Journal of Aquatic Research and Environmental Studies 1 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

Low incidence of microplastic contaminants in Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) from the Salish Sea, USA

Researchers examined wild Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas) from the Salish Sea in Washington State and found a relatively low incidence of microplastic contamination, with approximately 63% of oysters containing microparticles at an average of about 1.75 particles per individual. The results suggest that microplastic burden in this commercially important shellfish may be lower than reported in more heavily polluted regions.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 87 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in seawater and fish acquired from the corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea

Microplastics were detected in 100% of seawater and 61% of fish samples collected from corresponding fishing zones of the Baltic Sea, with mean abundances of 19,984 items/m³ in seawater and 3.3 items per fish. The co-sampling design linking fish MP loads to their water column environment provided direct evidence of aquatic exposure driving tissue contamination.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 8 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Auckland (New Zealand) beach sediments

Researchers conducted the first large-scale investigation of microplastic contamination in beach sediments across 39 sites in Auckland, New Zealand, finding contamination at the majority of beaches surveyed. Mean abundance varied by coastal environment type, with estuarine and harbour sites generally showing higher concentrations than open ocean beaches.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 131 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative analysis of microplastic pollution in commercially relevant seafood across different geographical regions

Researchers analyzed microplastic pollution in commercially important seafood species, characterizing particle morphology and polymer composition across species. The study found microplastics in all species sampled, with differences in contamination levels linked to feeding ecology and habitat.

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

The concentration of microplastics compared to relative population proximity and basin residence times in Hood Canal and Whidbey Basin in Puget Sound, WA

This study measured microplastic concentrations in Hood Canal and Whidbey Basin in Puget Sound in relation to local human population density, finding higher plastic concentrations in more populated areas. The results reinforce that human activity is the primary driver of microplastic contamination in regional waterways.

2017 ResearchWorks at the University of Washington (University of Washington) 4 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

Plastics from Surface to Seabed: Vertical Distribution of (Micro)plastic Particles in the North Pacific Ocean

Researchers investigated the vertical distribution of microplastics across the water column and deep-sea sediments (>5 km) in the North Pacific Ocean, finding concentrations of 8-2600 items/m3 in the water column and 1100-3200 items/kg in sediments, with distinct patterns across the North Pacific Subtropical Gyre, Papahanaumokuakea Monument, and a less-polluted open ocean site.

2025 Environmental Science & Technology
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

Presence of microplastics in benthic and epibenthic organisms: Influence of habitat, feeding mode and trophic level

This study examined microplastic occurrence in benthic and epibenthic invertebrates from the Western English Channel, finding that habitat type, feeding mode, and trophic level all influenced microplastic ingestion rates. The results suggest that bottom-dwelling filter feeders and deposit feeders are among the most exposed organisms in seafloor food webs.

2018 Environmental Pollution 281 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