Article
Environmental Sciences
Kiani M. Perez-Alvelo, Eduardo M. Llegus, Janet M. Forestier-Babilonia, Camila V. Elias-Arroyo, Keisharie N. Pagan-Malave, Guillermo J. Bird-Rivera, Carlos J. Rodriguez-Sierra
Summary: The Caribbean islands, including Puerto Rico, are biodiversity hotspots threatened by microplastics, with urbanization, industrial activities, and river inputs identified as likely sources of plastic debris. The La Esperanza Peninsula showed the highest pollution levels, while other beaches displayed lower and similar abundance. Fibers, fragments, and foams were the predominant forms of microplastics found.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vasantkumar Rabari, Krupal Patel, Heris Patel, Jigneshkumar Trivedi
Summary: The study aimed to quantify microplastic prevalence among 20 sandy beaches on the Gujarat coast. Beaches were categorised into three classes based on anthropogenic pressure, showing varying levels of microplastic contamination. Threads were found to be the most abundant type of microplastic, with polypropylene, polyethylene, and polystyrene identified as the main chemical compositions. Tourism and fishing activities were suggested as the possible sources of higher microplastic contamination in highly impacted sites.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Vasantkumar Rabari, Krupal Patel, Heris Patel, Jigneshkumar Trivedi
Summary: This study quantified the prevalence of microplastics on 20 sandy beaches along the Gujarat coast. The results showed variations in microplastic contamination levels among beaches with different anthropogenic pressures, and tourism and fishing activities were identified as the main sources of high microplastic contamination.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2022)
Article
Marine & Freshwater Biology
Leonardo Lopes Costa, Igor David da Costa, Ariane da Silva Oliveira, Ilana Rosental Zalmon
Summary: Sandy beaches are ideal models for comparative studies on MP ingestion because they are both sources and sinks of plastics, while accommodating multiple species with different traits. The concentration and richness of suspected microplastics (SMP) in beach macroinvertebrates and fishes vary according to urbanization, feeding modes, and habitat. Our results suggest that deposit-feeder macroinvertebrates from the supralittoral can be used as indicators of microplastic pollution in sandy beaches.
ESTUARINE COASTAL AND SHELF SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Leonardo Lopes Costa, Ariane da Silva Oliveira, Igor David da Costa, Thayanne Nascimento Silva, Maria Eduarda Azevedo Sciammarella Sant'Anna, Bruna Tavares, Ilana Rosental Zalmon
Summary: Databases on microplastic ingestion by marine animals are increasing, including on sandy beaches where biomonitors are proposed to monitor plastic pollution. This study aimed to document suspected microplastic occurrence in the digestive tract of multiple taxa and determine if certain invertebrates and fish ingested microplastics in proportion to sediment and water pollution levels, hence identifying potential sandy beach biomonitors. Among 45 species examined, 10 macroinvertebrates and 12 fish species were found to ingest microplastics for the first time. Microplastic morphotypes differed between abiotic and biotic compartments. Furthermore, 10 out of 12 taxa did not show a linear relationship between microplastic concentration and sediment and water microplastic levels. Our findings indicate that only a few species from sandy beaches can be efficient biomonitors, despite widespread plastic ingestion.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emiliano Hines, Maria L. Jaubet, Graciela Cuello, Rodolfo Elias, Griselda Garaffo
Summary: The study examined the abundance of plastic debris in marine sediments of tourist beaches in the Southwest Atlantic, Argentina. Various factors, including beach morphology, grain size, recreational use level, continental water discharge, location, distance from urban center, and season, were considered to determine the abundance of macro-, meso- and microplastics. Results showed that continental water discharge had the highest impact on the abundance of plastic debris on beach surfaces. Beaches with fine grain size, between groins, and high recreational use tended to accumulate more plastic debris. Seasonal variations also influenced the abundance of plastic waste, despite city government efforts to clean beaches. The influence of anthropogenic pressure on litter abundance was altered in beaches with higher human impact.
MARINE ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peter Vermeiren, Diego Lercari, Cynthia C. Munoz, Kou Ikejima, Eleonora Celentano, Gabriela Jorge-Romero, Omar Defeo
Summary: Despite the global occurrence of microplastic contamination on sandy beaches, evidence of microplastic distribution within beaches remains contradictory. The abundance of microplastics decreases exponentially with increasing grain size, and significant differences in microplastic contamination between sites with varying anthropogenic influence may be related to their proximity to a freshwater canal.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Recca E. Sajorne, Genese Divine B. Cayabo, Lea Janine A. Gajardo, Jhonamie A. Mabuhay-Omar, Lota A. Creencia, Hernando P. Bacosa
Summary: Microplastics are a growing threat to the marine environment and organisms, and this study found a significant presence of microplastics in the beach sand of Puerto Princesa, Philippines. The east coast showed higher abundance of microplastics compared to the west coast, with predominantly blue fiber particles identified as polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP). The presence of microplastics was detected in 71% of the sampling sites, highlighting the need for future research on the presence and effects of microplastics in the food chain, particularly seafood.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jan Gohla, Sandra Bracun, Gerwin Gretschel, Stephan Koblmueller, Maximilian Wagner, Christian Pacher
Summary: Beaches can serve as good indicators for local microplastic distribution and pollution. The use of potassium carbonate as a floatation medium can effectively extract high-density polymer microplastics, with advantages such as non-toxicity and affordability.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Nada Abdelkader, Sana Ben Ismail, Rym Zakhama-Sraieb
Summary: This study investigates the distribution and characteristics of macroplastics, mesoplastics, and microplastics on three sandy beaches in the north-eastern coast of Tunisia. The results suggest that the beaches are heavily polluted with plastic litter, predominantly consisting of cigarette butts and fragments. The findings aim to provide a scientific basis for better management of plastic pollution on Tunisian beaches.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Tariqul Islam, Yanliang Li, Md Mahfuzur Rob, Hefa Cheng
Summary: This review summarizes the research progress on separation and characterization of microplastics, as well as their occurrence and sources in Bangladesh. Despite the first total ban on plastic bags in the world, microplastics are still widely detected in the country's inland and marine environment, mainly derived from secondary sources. The dominant microplastics observed in Bangladesh are fibers, mainly from textile sources. Polyethylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polypropylene, and polyvinylchloride are the most abundant polymers found in microplastics in the marine and freshwater environment of Bangladesh.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
J. Lofty, D. Valero, C. A. M. E. Wilson, M. J. Franca, P. Ouro
Summary: Microplastic pollution poses a known threat to aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems, but the mechanisms of MP transport in rivers remain unknown. Laboratory experiments comparing MP and natural sediment transport dynamics reveal similarities and only a few differences in saltation trajectory and collision angles. Overall, spherical MP particles behave similarly to spherical natural sediments in aquatic environments under the examined conditions, providing a foundation for further studies on MP transport.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Matthew Cole, Yuri Artioli, Rachel Coppock, Giovanni Galli, Radwa Saad, Ricardo Torres, Thomas Vance, Anna Yunnie, Penelope K. Lindeque
Summary: Microplastics are a widespread environmental pollutant. Curbing microplastic pollution requires various interventions such as source reduction and curative measures. A nature-based solution involving mussels as microplastic biofilters is proposed, which can effectively remove waterborne microplastics and repurpose them into biodeposits. Experimental results and modeling suggest that this approach has the potential to significantly reduce microplastic contamination.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Micaela Buteler, Andrea Marina Alma, Teodoro Stadler, Ariane Carnebia Gingold, Maria Celeste Manattini, Mariana Lozada
Summary: The acute toxicity of microplastics on honeybees is low and does not lead to short-term mortality. However, honeybees' foraging behavior does not prevent them from ingesting microplastics, which could potentially have lethal long-term effects on the bees.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Joao Vitor Fonseca da Silva, Fernando Miranda Lansac-Toha, Bianca Trevizan Segovia, Felipe Emiliano Amadeo, Louizi de Souza Magalhaes Braghin, Luiz Felipe Machado Velho, Hugo Sarmento, Claudia Costa Bonecker
Summary: The increasing amount of plastic particles in continental aquatic environments has caught the attention of researchers worldwide. This study investigates the effects of microplastic particles of different sizes on the planktonic trophic chain and finds that their presence significantly affects the food web, with smaller particles having a higher consumption effect.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexander Kunz, Bruno A. Walther, Ludvig Lowemark, Yao-Chang Lee
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2016)
Article
Geography, Physical
Lara Wacha, Bojan Matos, Alexander Kunz, Borna Luzar-Oberiter, Bruno Tomljenovic, Adriano Banak
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2018)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Kunz, Brigitte Urban, Sumiko Tsukamoto
ZEITSCHRIFT DER DEUTSCHEN GESELLSCHAFT FUR GEOWISSENSCHAFTEN
(2017)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Maryline Le Beon, Ya-Chu Tseng, Yann Klinger, Ata Elias, Alexander Kunz, Alexandre Sursock, Mathieu Daeron, Paul Tapponnier, Rachid Jomaa
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bruno A. Walther, Alexander Kunz, Chieh-Shen Hu
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2018)
Article
Geography, Physical
Tzu-Shuan Wu, Alexander Kunz, Manoj K. Jaiswal, Yue-Gau Chen
QUATERNARY GEOCHRONOLOGY
(2012)
Article
Geography, Physical
Michaela Spiske, Jens Piepenbreier, Carlos Benavente, Alexander Kunz, Heinrich Bahlburg, Jens Steffahn
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2013)
Article
Geography, Physical
J. Bruce H. Shyu, Yuan-Lu Tsai, Yoko Ota, Yuki Sawai, Alexander Kunz
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2019)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Alexander Kunz, Dorthe Pflanz, Tobias Weniger, Brigitte Urban, Frank Krueger, Yue-Gau Chen
Article
Environmental Sciences
Graham Wong, Ludvig Lowemark, Alexander Kunz
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2020)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Falk Schneider, Alexander Kunz, Chieh-Shen Hu, Ning Yen, Hsin-Tien Lin
Summary: A new citizen science bicycle survey was developed to assess riverine debris, covering 281.5 km of the Tamsui river system in Taiwan. The study revealed different litter densities at the river mouth and along the riverbanks further upstream, with derelict fishing gear and single-use plastics dominating different areas.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Ludvig Lowemark, Alice Chien-Yi Liao, Yu-Hsuan Liou, Shital Godad, Ting-Yi Chang, Alexander Kunz
Summary: The combination of ion-exchange resins and X-ray fluorescence core scanners has shown promise in monitoring heavy metal pollution. However, variations in the elements present in the resins and sample carriers, as well as differences in handling methods, can affect the accuracy of measurements.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Dorthe Pflanz, Alexander Kunz, Jens Hornung, Matthias Hinderer
Summary: This study uses geochronological research and optically stimulated luminescence dating to determine the depositional ages of aeolian sands and loess in the northern Upper Rhine Graben. The results show that aeolian sand deposition occurred from 17 to 10 thousand years ago, confirming a deposition during the end of the Wurm glaciation, while loess deposition took place from 42 to 17 thousand years ago. Furthermore, the study also suggests a younger period of anthropogenic induced redisposition of aeolian sands around 4 thousand years ago.
QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Atefeh Zendehboudi, Azam Mohammadi, Sina Dobaradaran, Gabriel E. De-la-Torre, Bahman Ramavandi, Seyed Enayat Hashemi, Reza Saeedi, Emran Moradpour Tayebi, Ahmad Vafaee, Amirhossein Darabi
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics and ecological risks of microplastics (MPs) in ballast water for the first time, and found high levels of MP pollution. These findings contribute to our understanding of the sources and risks of microplastics in marine ecosystems.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rose Boahemaa Pinto, Linda Bogerd, Martine van der Ploeg, Kwame Duah, Remko Uijlenhoet, Tim H. M. van Emmerik
Summary: Catchment-scale plastic pollution assessments provide insights into the sources, sinks, and pathways of plastic pollution. We propose an approach to quantify macroplastic transport and density in the Odaw catchment, Ghana, and find that the urban riverine zone has the highest transport, while the urban tidal zone has the highest riverbank and land macroplastic density.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Aliya Baidourela, Qian Sun, Gongxin Yang, Umut Halik, Zhongkai Dong, Kaixu Cai, Guili Sun, Wenya Zhang, Sisi Cheng
Summary: The study focused on heavy metal pollution in the green vegetation of a suburban industrial area in Tuokexun County, Xinjiang, China. The results showed that the overall level of heavy metal pollution in the soil was minor, with mercury (Hg) being the most severe contamination, likely caused by human activities. The composition of heavy metal elements in trees was more stable compared to grass and shrubs, with varying concentrations across different vegetation. Shrubbery was found to be the most effective in heavy metal restoration, and there were disparities in heavy metal enrichment among different vegetation types.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
James H. Bridson, Hayden Masterton, Beatrix Theobald, Regis Risani, Fraser Doake, Jessica A. Wallbank, Stefan D. M. Maday, Gavin Lear, Robert Abbel, Dawn A. Smith, Joanne M. Kingsbury, Olga Pantos, Grant L. Northcott, Sally Gaw
Summary: Plastic pollution has significant environmental impacts, largely due to chemical additives. However, the behavior of plastic additives in marine environments is not well understood. A marine deployment experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of weathering on the extractables profile of four types of plastics in New Zealand over a period of nine months. The concentration of additives in polyethylene and oxo-degradable polyethylene was strongly influenced by artificial weathering, while polyamide 6 and polyethylene terephthalate showed minimal change. These findings emphasize the importance of considering leaching and weathering effects on plastic composition when assessing the potential impact and risk of plastic pollution in receiving environments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alan G. Scarlett, Francis D. Spilsbury, Steven J. Rowland, Marthe Monique Gagnon, Kliti Grice
Summary: This study used diamondoid hydrocarbon distributions to identify the sources of environmental oil contamination. A suite of 20 diamondoids was found to accumulate in fish adipose tissue. The scatter plots of indices between fish and exposure oils showed a close to ideal 1:1 relationship, which can be used to determine the origin of the oil.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Jiang, Mengmeng Wan, Kun Lin, Yanshan Chen, Rui Wang, Liju Tan, Jiangtao Wang
Summary: In this study, the concentration, composition, distribution, and sources of PCBs in surface seawater of the Bohai Bay were analyzed. The results showed that PCBs in the Bohai Bay had high concentrations and were primarily derived from land-based sources such as port activities and river inputs. The PCBs in the Bohai Bay may come from commercial PCBs and their incineration products, municipal landfills, wood and coal combustion, and industrial activities, etc.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Icaro S. A. Porto, Saulo V. A. Dantas, Caio S. A. Felix, Francisco A. S. Cunha, Jailson B. de Andrade, Sergio L. C. Ferreira
Summary: This study evaluated the risks of mercury levels in sardines consumed by low-income population in Salvador, Brazil. The results showed that the mercury content in the sampled sardines posed no risks to human health. This study is significant as most sardines in Salvador come from Todos os Santos Bay, which has a history of mercury contamination.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jiahui Chen, Chengyu Yuan, Guanqun Zhai, Guangcheng Chen, Heng Zhu, Jun Liu, Yong Ye
Summary: This study investigated the combined influences of species selection and site elevation on greenhouse gas fluxes from restored mangrove soils. The results suggest that Avicennia marina should be selected for mangrove restoration to minimize carbon release and reduce the influence of greenhouse gas fluxes on the global greenhouse effect.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emmanuel Onyeabor, Uju Obuka
Summary: The Gulf of Guinea region in Africa is a significant area for coastal countries, playing a vital role in their economic and environmental development. This study aims to reduce marine plastic pollution in the region by utilizing legal instruments.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuanli Liu, Stephan Luttjohann, Alvise Vianello, Claudia Lorenz, Fan Liu, Jes Vollertsen
Summary: Large area attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (LAATR-FTIR) is a novel technique for detecting small microplastics, with limited accuracy for large microplastics. However, it shows promise in homogeneous matrices. The spectra quality is comparable between transmission mode and LAATR mode.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Phuc T. D. Le, Andrew M. Fischer, Britta D. Hardesty, Heidi J. Auman, Chris Wilcox
Summary: This study explores the relationship between ocean currents and the accumulation of floating marine debris (FMD) and finds that higher concentrations of FMD are associated with frontal frequencies (FF). FMD is primarily trapped in accumulation zones between fronts and the coastline, which have high biodiversity value.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Rosa Sawan, Perine Doyen, Florence Viudes, Rachid Amara, Celine Mahfouz
Summary: Few studies have examined the impact of urbanization and meteorological events on microplastics discharged into the sea through rivers. Surface water samples were collected from two Lebanese rivers, with differing degrees of urbanization, during dry and wet periods. The results showed that the most industrialized river had a significantly higher abundance of microplastics compared to the less-industrialized river. There was also a correlation between particle contamination and the season at each site, with microplastic concentrations highest on the first day of the wet season. These findings highlight the importance of considering meteorological events in accurately assessing plastic pollution influx into coastal waters.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Katherine R. Shaw, Jonathan L. Whitney, Eileen M. Nalley, Madeline C. Schmidbauer, Megan J. Donahue, Jesse Black, Raquel N. Corniuk, Kellie Teague, Rachel Sandquist, Catherine Pirkle, Rachel Dacks, Max Sudnovsky, Jennifer M. Lynch
Summary: This study examines the ingestion of plastic in reef fish in the Republic of the Marshall Islands. Plastic particles were found in the gastrointestinal tracts of multiple fish species. However, further analysis revealed that these particles were actually natural materials and posed no threat to human consumers.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Revati Hardikar, C. K. Haridevi, Shantaj Deshbhratar
Summary: This study investigated the variability in phytoplankton functional structure using a trait-based approach and explored the relationship between species traits and environmental factors, as well as their impact on ecosystem functioning. The results revealed that morphological traits, temperature, and ammonia played a decisive role in the seasonal succession of phytoplankton species. It was found that certain traits favored higher biomass production but might hinder energy transfer efficiency. The strong correlation between environmental variables and phytoplankton functional structure supports the practical implementation of a trait-based approach in studying phytoplankton community dynamics under different environmental conditions.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Engki A. Kisnarti, Nining Sari Ningsih, Mutiara R. Putri, Nani Hendiarti, Bernhard Mayer
Summary: This study examines the movement patterns of plastic marine debris in Indonesian waters, revealing that Indonesia contributes significantly to transboundary marine debris in the Pacific Ocean, Indian Ocean, and the South China Sea. Most of the debris remains in Indonesian waters and moves back and forth due to the influence of monsoon currents.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2024)
