Article
Environmental Sciences
J. W. Buckingham, C. Manno, C. M. Waluda, C. L. Waller
Summary: The concentration of microplastics in the nearshore waters of South Georgia is about one order of magnitude higher than similar studies south of the Polar Front. The microplastic concentration in wastewater is similar to that in seawater. Further research on microplastic distribution, characteristics, and transport in the region is recommended to assess the risk to the ecosystem.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carmen B. de los Santos, Anna-Sara Krang, Eduardo Infantes
Summary: The study found that marine canopies can act as sinks for microplastics under certain bio-physical conditions, with the retention probability generally increasing with seagrass shoot density and polymer specific density, and decreasing with flow velocity.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Franciele O. Campos da Rocha, Sabrina T. Martinez, Vania P. Campos, Gisele O. da Rocha, Jailson B. de Andrade
Summary: Microplastics are emerging contaminants with possible adverse effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Despite the high abundance of microplastics in South Atlantic waters, studies on MP contamination are still scarce, and there is no consensus on the best sampling conditions.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mariana M. P. B. Fuentes, Valencia Beckwidth, Matthew Ware
Summary: This study found that microplastics found in coastal areas can alter the properties of sand, including temperature, which may have an impact on the marine habitat used by endangered species such as marine turtles. The addition of microplastics to sand led to an increase in temperature, potentially affecting nest productivity and hatchling fitness.
FRONTIERS IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Fernando G. Torres, Gabriel E. De-la-Torre
Summary: Plastic production has been continuously increasing since its massification in the 1950s, leading to microplastics being widespread contaminants that could serve as geological proxies of the Anthropocene. Investigating microplastics in sedimentary records requires specific technical procedures, and the study evaluated current advancements and methods in this area while providing recommendations for future research.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2021)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ren-Shou Yu, Sher Singh
Summary: This study explores the extent of global marine microplastic pollution and its impact on marine ecosystems and human health. It examines the entry of plastic into the ocean, particularly the accumulation of plastic along coastlines and the formation of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Using a concentration map of marine microplastics across five continents, the global distribution of microplastic pollution is revealed. The study also investigates the effects of microplastics on marine wildlife and their potential entry into the human food chain, posing health risks. The results emphasize the urgent need for scientific research and policy measures to address the serious threats of microplastic pollution to global marine ecosystems and human health.
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
Environmental Sciences
Mochamad Riza Iskandar, Dewi Surinati, Muhammad Reza Cordova, Kian Siong
Summary: Before this study, the pathways and sources of marine debris in Jakarta Bay were unknown. Through the analysis of particles released in Jakarta Bay, it was found that most particles flow toward the Indian Ocean from Jakarta Bay, coming from the north of Java Island and the coasts of the Gulf of Thailand, Sumatra, and Kalimantan. Understanding the pathway of marine debris could be useful in pollution reduction efforts.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Article
Ecology
Patrick W. S. Joyce, Laura J. Falkenberg
Summary: This study examined microplastic abundance in three co-existing mussel species in four sites in Hong Kong, with the highest microplastic abundance found in Perna viridis. The study also found that the majority of observed microplastics were red in color, and the proportion of microplastic colors varied among species and sites. These findings highlight the need for further research on the potential impacts of microplastic ingestion on ecologically important bivalve species.
REGIONAL STUDIES IN MARINE SCIENCE
(2023)
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
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
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiyue Niu, Michiel B. Vandegehuchte, Ana Isabel Catarino, Gert Everaert
Summary: The study found that microplastic at environmentally relevant concentrations and sizes does not alter the growth of marine diatoms like Phaeodactylum tricornutum. The results provide high quality dose-response data for improved risk assessment of microplastic pollution in present and future marine environments.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
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)
Review
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Jake Bowley, Craig Baker-Austin, Adam Porter, Rachel Hartnell, Ceri Lewis
Summary: As plastic pollution continues to rise, concerns about microplastics acting as vectors for pathogen transport are emerging. While there is a lack of detailed studies, understanding the interactions between microplastics and pathogens is crucial for the aquaculture industry.
TRENDS IN MICROBIOLOGY
(2021)
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)