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Policy & Risk
13,899 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.
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.
Are We Speaking the Same Language? Recommendations for a Definition and Categorization Framework for Plastic Debris
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This review examines the full lifecycle of microplastic pollution, from how plastics enter waterways to how they degrade and interact with ecosystems. Researchers found that microplastics serve as carriers for chemical pollutants and pathogens, and that their small size allows them to be ingested by a wide range of organisms across the food chain. The study emphasizes that understanding the fate and transport of microplastics is essential for developing effective pollution mitigation strategies.
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.
The deep sea is a major sink for microplastic debris
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Researchers analyzed deep-sea sediments from the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Indian Ocean and found microplastic fibers up to 4 orders of magnitude more concentrated than at the contaminated sea surface, identifying the deep seafloor as a vast and previously unknown repository of the world's 'missing' plastic.
Plastic waste in the marine environment: A review of sources, occurrence and effects
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This review covered the sources, occurrence, and ecological effects of plastic waste in the marine environment, synthesizing evidence on how plastic pollution enters the ocean, where it accumulates, and what harm it causes to marine life.
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.
Beyond Mechanical Recycling: Giving New Life to Plastic Waste
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This review examines chemical recycling processes — including pyrolysis, solvolysis, and gasification — as alternatives to mechanical recycling for plastic waste, comparing their technical readiness, environmental performance via life-cycle analysis, and commercial development status.
A global inventory of small floating plastic debris
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Researchers compiled a global inventory of small floating plastic debris from ocean surface sampling expeditions, estimating the total abundance and mass of floating microplastics and identifying the major oceanic accumulation zones.
Are Agricultural Soils Dumps for Microplastics of Urban Origin?
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Researchers investigated whether agricultural soils serve as dumping grounds for urban-origin microplastics, finding evidence that sewage sludge application and atmospheric deposition deliver city-sourced plastics to farmland.
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.
Microplastic as a Vector for Chemicals in the Aquatic Environment: Critical Review and Model-Supported Reinterpretation of Empirical Studies
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Researchers critically reviewed the widespread hypothesis that microplastics transfer harmful chemicals to marine animals after being ingested. Using new modeling calculations, they found that for most organisms in most scenarios, the contribution of microplastics to chemical exposure is actually very small compared to what animals absorb through water and food. The study suggests that while microplastics are a legitimate environmental concern, their role as a significant chemical delivery vehicle has been overstated in much of the scientific literature.
Microplastic is an Abundant and Distinct Microbial Habitat in an Urban River
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Researchers demonstrated that microplastic surfaces in an urban river host a microbial community that is distinct from surrounding water and sediment communities, establishing microplastic as an abundant and ecologically distinct habitat for river microorganisms.
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.
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, Fate, Behavior and Ecotoxicological State of Phthalates in Different Environmental Matrices
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This review examines the widespread presence of phthalates, chemicals commonly added to plastics to increase flexibility, across air, water, soil, and food. Researchers found that phthalates are detected virtually everywhere in the environment and have been linked to reproductive, developmental, and hormonal effects in laboratory studies. The study highlights that indoor air represents a particularly significant source of human exposure since people spend the majority of their time indoors surrounded by plastic-containing products.
Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt
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Researchers tested tap water from 14 countries, beer from the Great Lakes region, and commercial sea salt for microplastic contamination and found anthropogenic particles in the majority of all samples. Tap water was contaminated in 81% of samples tested, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study highlights that microplastics are present in everyday foods and beverages, contributing to routine human exposure through multiple dietary sources.
Laboratory Methods for the Analysis of Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Recommendations for quantifying synthetic particles in waters and sediments.
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This guidance document reviewed laboratory methods for analyzing microplastics in marine environmental samples, providing standardized recommendations to improve comparability and quality across monitoring programs.
Rethinking microplastics as a diverse contaminant suite
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Researchers argue that the term microplastics oversimplifies what is actually a hugely diverse class of contaminants varying in size, shape, polymer type, and chemical additives. Treating all microplastics as a single pollutant leads to studies and regulations that may miss critical differences in how various particles behave and affect organisms. The study calls for a more nuanced approach that treats microplastics as a contaminant suite, similar to how pesticides or pharmaceuticals are categorized.
Atmospheric microplastic deposition in an urban environment and an evaluation of transport
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Researchers measured microplastic deposition in central London and found contamination in all samples, with rates ranging from 575 to 1,008 particles per square meter per day. Fibrous microplastics made up 92% of the particles, and 15 different polymer types were identified. Wind analysis revealed different source areas for fibrous and non-fibrous airborne microplastics, providing the first evidence that the atmosphere is a significant pathway for microplastic pollution in urban areas.
Emerging pollutants in the environment: A challenge for water resource management
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This review surveys emerging pollutants in aquatic environments, including pharmaceuticals, microplastics, nanoparticles, and industrial chemicals that are not commonly monitored in water treatment. Researchers found that over 700 such substances have been identified across 22 countries, many of which persist through conventional water treatment processes. The study emphasizes the urgent need for updated monitoring frameworks and advanced treatment technologies to address these widespread but largely unregulated contaminants.
Microplastics pollution in inland freshwaters of China: A case study in urban surface waters of Wuhan, China
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Researchers characterized microplastic pollution in inland freshwaters across urban suburban areas of China, finding contamination that reflected land use intensity and population density in the surrounding catchments.