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Detection Methods
14,043 resultsMicroplastics in the Marine Environment: A Review of the Methods Used for Identification and Quantification
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This review covered the methods used to identify and characterize microplastics in marine environmental samples, evaluating the strengths and limitations of visual, spectroscopic, and chemical approaches for field and laboratory analysis.
Accumulation of Microplastic on Shorelines Woldwide: Sources and Sinks
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Researchers found microplastic contamination on shorelines across all six continents, with higher concentrations near densely populated areas. A major source appears to be synthetic clothing fibers released during laundry, with a single garment shedding over 1,900 fibers per wash that pass through wastewater treatment and end up in the ocean.
River plastic emissions to the world’s oceans
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Researchers built a global model to estimate how much plastic waste enters the ocean from rivers, combining data on waste management, population density, and water flow patterns. They estimated that rivers deliver between 1.15 and 2.41 million tonnes of plastic to the oceans annually, with over 74% of emissions occurring between May and October. The top 20 polluting rivers, mostly in Asia, accounted for 67% of the global total, providing key data for targeting cleanup and prevention efforts.
On the Construction and Comparison of Difference Schemes
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This classic numerical methods paper by Gilbert Strang analyzed the construction and comparison of finite difference schemes for solving differential equations — a foundational computational mathematics reference unrelated to microplastics research that appears to have been included in this dataset in error.
Microplastic Ingestion by Zooplankton
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This study examined whether tiny marine animals called zooplankton can ingest microplastics, and researchers found that thirteen different zooplankton species consumed plastic beads of various sizes. The plastics also stuck to the animals' outer shells and significantly reduced their normal feeding on algae, suggesting that microplastic pollution could disrupt the base of the marine food web.
Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs
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This review synthesizes the growing body of research on microplastic contamination in freshwater rivers, lakes, and sediments, which has received far less attention than marine environments. Researchers found that freshwater microplastic concentrations can rival or exceed those reported in ocean studies, particularly near urban and industrial areas. The study identifies critical knowledge gaps including the lack of standardized sampling methods and limited understanding of how microplastics affect freshwater organisms and ecosystems.
Microplastics in freshwaters and drinking water: Critical review and assessment of data quality
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Researchers critically reviewed fifty studies on microplastics in freshwater and drinking water and found significant quality issues, including inconsistent sampling methods and inadequate contamination controls. Many studies lacked proper quality assurance, making it difficult to draw reliable conclusions about actual contamination levels. The study emphasizes that standardized methods are urgently needed before the true extent of microplastic contamination in drinking water can be assessed.
Microplastic contamination in an urban area: a case study in Greater Paris
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across Greater Paris, finding that urban areas generate and accumulate substantial microplastic pollution through multiple pathways including stormwater, atmospheric deposition, and river transport.
Uptake and Effects of Microplastics on Cells and Tissue of the Blue Mussel Mytilus edulis L. after an Experimental Exposure
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Researchers exposed blue mussels to high-density polyethylene microplastics and found the particles were drawn into the gills and digestive system within just three hours. The microplastics triggered a strong inflammatory response and damaged cell membranes, providing direct evidence that microplastics can enter animal cells and cause significant tissue-level harm.
Identification of microplastic in effluents of waste water treatment plants using focal plane array-based micro-Fourier-transform infrared imaging
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Researchers analyzed effluent from 12 wastewater treatment plants in Germany and found microplastics in all of them, with estimates of up to 4 billion particles discharged per plant annually — predominantly polyethylene fragments and polyester fibers. Notably, one plant with an additional post-filtration step reduced microplastic discharge by 97%, showing that advanced filtration can dramatically cut the flow of plastic particles into waterways.
A new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics in marine sediments
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Researchers developed a new analytical approach for monitoring microplastics specifically in marine sediments, improving extraction and identification steps to enable more reliable and standardized environmental monitoring of seafloor contamination.
Analysis of microplastics in water by micro-Raman spectroscopy: Release of plastic particles from different packaging into mineral water
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This study analyzed microplastics in water samples using micro-Raman spectroscopy and also investigated the release of plastic additives, finding that both microplastics and their leached chemicals are present in aquatic environments.
Detection of microplastics in human lung tissue using μFTIR spectroscopy
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Researchers analyzed lung tissue from 13 people and found microplastics in 11 of the samples, identifying 12 different plastic types including polypropylene and polyester. The particles were found in all regions of the lungs, with significantly higher concentrations in the lower lung. This is one of the first studies to directly confirm that microplastics from everyday environments can be inhaled and accumulate deep in human lung tissue.
More than 1000 rivers account for 80% of global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean
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Researchers developed a model to estimate global riverine plastic emissions into the ocean and found that more than 1,000 rivers account for 80% of emissions, rather than just a handful of large rivers as previously assumed. The study suggests that plastic pollution is geographically distributed across many smaller river systems worldwide, which has important implications for developing targeted mitigation strategies.
Atmospheric microplastics: A review on current status and perspectives
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This review summarizes current knowledge about microplastics detected in the atmosphere of urban, suburban, and remote areas around the world. Researchers found that airborne microplastic concentrations vary by one to three orders of magnitude across different locations, with fibers and fragments being the most common shapes. The study highlights the need for standardized sampling methods and further research to understand how atmospheric microplastics affect human health.
Occurrence, identification and removal of microplastic particles and fibers in conventional activated sludge process and advanced MBR technology
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This study examined the occurrence, identification, and removal of microplastic particles and fibers in conventional drinking water treatment plants, finding that while treatment substantially reduced microplastic levels, complete removal was not achieved.
Microplastics in Swiss Floodplain Soils
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Researchers surveyed Swiss floodplain soils and found microplastics present across multiple sites, suggesting that floodplain dynamics — periodic inundation and sediment deposition — contribute to microplastic accumulation in terrestrial environments.
A Global Perspective on Microplastics
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This review provides a global overview of microplastic pollution, tracing its origins from land-based disposal, textile washing, tire wear, and at-sea losses to its distribution across ocean compartments. Researchers note that microplastic abundance increases as particle size decreases, expanding the range of organisms that can ingest them, with particles smaller than 20 micrometers potentially able to penetrate cell membranes. The study highlights that while evidence of harm is growing, more research is needed to draw definitive conclusions about health risks to humans and wildlife.
Potential Health Impact of Environmentally Released Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Food Production Chain: Experiences from Nanotoxicology
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This review assesses the potential for micro- and nanoplastics to enter the human food chain, drawing on evidence from studies of food production and related biological systems. Researchers found that while larger microplastics are unlikely to be absorbed by the human body, nanoplastics may be small enough to cross biological barriers and accumulate in tissues. The study highlights that much remains unknown about real-world human exposure levels and calls for more research into the health implications of these tiny particles in food.
Spatial Patterns of Plastic Debris along Estuarine Shorelines
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Researchers mapped plastic debris distribution along an estuary in the UK and found that microplastics made up 65% of all debris collected. Wind patterns and water flow influenced where plastics accumulated, with downwind locations acting as collection points, and the study used infrared spectroscopy to identify the specific types of polymers present.
A Procedure for Measuring Microplastics using Pressurized Fluid Extraction
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Researchers developed and tested a procedure for measuring microplastics in environmental samples using pressurized fluid extraction, finding it an efficient and effective method for recovering particles from complex matrices like sediments and soils.
Microplastic Size-Dependent Toxicity, Oxidative Stress Induction, and p-JNK and p-p38 Activation in the Monogonont Rotifer (Brachionus koreanus)
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Researchers tested the effects of different sizes of polystyrene microbeads on a type of microscopic aquatic animal called a rotifer. They found that the smallest particles caused the most harm, reducing growth rate and reproduction while triggering oxidative stress and activating cellular defense pathways. The study demonstrates that microplastic toxicity increases as particle size decreases, suggesting nanoplastics may pose greater biological risks than larger fragments.
Occurrence and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in River Shore Sediments of the Rhine-Main Area in Germany
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Researchers surveyed river shore sediments and documented the occurrence and spatial distribution of microplastics, finding that sediment accumulation zones along riverbanks are hotspots for microplastic deposition.
Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil
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This review compiles research on the sources, movement, and toxic effects of microplastics in soil ecosystems, an area that has received less attention than aquatic pollution. Researchers describe how microplastics enter soil through agricultural practices, wastewater, and atmospheric deposition, then transfer through food chains to affect organisms at multiple levels. The study identifies major knowledge gaps and proposes management strategies to mitigate the ecological and human health risks of soil microplastic contamination.