Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in marine sediments along the Belgian coast

Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments

Barnes, D. K. A., Galgani, F., Thompson, R. C., & Barlaz, M. (2009) · Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences · doi:10.1098/rstb.2008.0205 · Cited by 6,126

Ingested Microscopic Plastic Translocates to the Circulatory System of the Mussel, Mytilus edulis (L.)

Browne, M. A., Dissanayake, A., Galloway, T. S., Lowe, D. M., & Thompson, R. C. (2008) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es800249a · Cited by 2,263

Plastic accumulation in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre

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Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review

Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Halsband, C., & Galloway, T. S. (2011) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2011.09.025 · Cited by 6,023

Microplastics in the marine environment: a review of the methods used for identification and quantification

Hidalgo-Ruz, V., Gutow, L., Thompson, R. C., & Thiel, M. (2012) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es2031505 · Cited by 5,440

The Physical Impacts of Microplastics on Marine Organisms: A Review

Wright, S. L., Thompson, R. C., & Galloway, T. S. (2013) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.02.031 · Cited by 4,524

Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton

Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Fileman, E., Halsband, C., Goodhead, R., Moger, J., & Galloway, T. S. (2013) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es400663f · Cited by 2,763

Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs

Eerkes-Medrano, D., Thompson, R. C., & Aldridge, D. C. (2015) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.012 · Cited by 2,638

The plastic in microplastics: A review

Andrady, A. L. (2017) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.01.082 · Cited by 2,372

Plastics in soil: Analytical methods and possible sources

Bläsing, M., & Amelung, W. (2018) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.086 · Cited by 1,655

Microplastic pollution in deep-sea sediments

Van Cauwenberghe, L., Vanreusel, A., Mees, J., & Janssen, C. R. (2013) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2013.08.013 · Cited by 1,575

Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: what we know and what we need to know

Wagner, M., Scherer, C., Alvarez-Muñoz, D., Brennholt, N., Bourrain, X., Buchinger, S., Fries, E., Grosbois, C., Klasmeier, J., Marti, T., et al. (2014) · Environmental Sciences Europe · doi:10.1186/s12302-014-0012-7 · Cited by 1,543

Trophic transfer of microplastics and mixed contaminants in the marine food web and implications for human health

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Plastics and microplastics in the oceans: From emerging pollutants to emerged threat

Avio, C. G., Gorbi, S., & Regoli, F. (2017) · Marine Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.marenvres.2016.05.012 · Cited by 1,248

Source, migration and toxicology of microplastics in soil

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Occurrence and Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in River Shore Sediments of the Rhine-Main Area in Germany

Klein, S., Worch, E., & Knepper, T. P. (2015) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b00492 · Cited by 1,181

Potential Health Impact of Environmentally Released Micro- and Nanoplastics in the Human Food Production Chain: Experiences from Nanotoxicology

Bouwmeester, H., Hollman, P. C. H., & Peters, R. J. B. (2015) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b01090 · Cited by 1,180

(Nano)plastics in the environment - Sources, fates and effects

da Costa, J. P., Santos, P. S. M., Duarte, A. C., & Rocha-Santos, T. (2016) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.05.041 · Cited by 1,139

Microplastics en route: Field measurements in the Dutch river delta and Amsterdam canals, wastewater treatment plants, North Sea sediments and biota

Leslie, H. A., Brandsma, S. H., van Velzen, M. J. M., & Vethaak, A. D. (2017) · Environment International · doi:10.1016/j.envint.2017.01.018 · Cited by 1,149

Microplastics are taken up by mussels (Mytilus edulis) and lugworms (Arenicola marina) living in natural habitats

Van Cauwenberghe, L., Claessens, M., Vandegehuchte, M. B., & Janssen, C. R. (2015) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2015.01.008 · Cited by 1,084

Widespread distribution of microplastics in subsurface seawater in the NE Pacific Ocean

Desforges, J.-P. W., Galbraith, M., Dangerfield, N., & Ross, P. S. (2014) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2013.12.035 · Cited by 1,045

Investigating microplastic trophic transfer in marine top predators

Nelms, S. E., Galloway, T. S., Godley, B. J., Jarvis, D. S., & Lindeque, P. K. (2018) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.016 · Cited by 1,039

Microplastic contamination of river beds significantly reduced by catchment-wide flooding

Hurley, R., Woodward, J., & Rothwell, J. J. (2018) · Nature Geoscience · doi:10.1038/s41561-018-0080-1 · Cited by 1,003

Effects of Microplastic on Fitness and PCB Bioaccumulation by the Lugworm Arenicola marina (L.)

Besseling, E., Wegner, A., Foekema, E. M., van den Heuvel-Greve, M. J., & Koelmans, A. A. (2013) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es302763x · Cited by 1,012

Identification of polymer types and additives in marine microplastic particles using pyrolysis-GC/MS and scanning electron microscopy

Fries, E., Dekiff, J. H., Willmeyer, J., Nuelle, M.-T., Ebert, M., & Remy, D. (2013) · Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts · doi:10.1039/c3em00214d · Cited by 926

Fate of nano- and microplastic in freshwater systems: A modeling study

Besseling, E., Quik, J. T. K., Sun, M., & Koelmans, A. A. (2017) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.10.001 · Cited by 919

Lost, but Found with Nile Red: A Novel Method for Detecting and Quantifying Small Microplastics (1 mm to 20 μm) in Environmental Samples

Erni-Cassola, G., Gibson, M. I., Thompson, R. C., & Christie-Oleza, J. A. (2017) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b04512 · Cited by 848

Transport of microplastics in coastal seas

Zhang, H. (2017) · Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science · doi:10.1016/j.ecss.2017.09.032 · Cited by 794

Quality assessment of the blue mussel (Mytilus edulis): comparison between commercial and wild types

De Witte, B., Devriese, L., Bekaert, K., Hoffman, S., Vandermeersch, G., Cooreman, K., & Robbens, J. (2014) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2014.06.006 · Cited by 787

Methodology Used for the Detection and Identification of Microplastics—A Critical Appraisal

Löder, M. G. J., & Gerdts, G. (2015) · Marine Anthropogenic Litter · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-16510-3_8 · Cited by 796

Interactions between microplastics and phytoplankton aggregates: Impact on their respective fates

Long, M., Moriceau, B., Gallinari, M., Lambert, C., Huvet, A., Raffray, J., & Soudant, P. (2015) · Marine Chemistry · doi:10.1016/j.marchem.2015.04.003 · Cited by 711

Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments

Ballent, A., Corcoran, P. L., Madden, O., Helm, P. A., & Longstaffe, F. J. (2016) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.06.037 · Cited by 700

Occurrence, sources, human health impacts and mitigation of microplastic pollution

Karbalaei, S., Hanachi, P., Walker, T. R., & Cole, M. (2018) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-018-3508-7 · Cited by 700

Plastic Ingestion by Pelagic and Demersal Fish from the North Sea and Baltic Sea

Rummel, C. D., Löder, M. G. J., Fricke, N. F., Lang, T., Griebeler, E.-M., Janke, M., & Gerdts, G. (2016) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2015.11.043 · Cited by 632

Responses of Hyalella azteca to acute and chronic microplastic exposures

Au, S. Y., Bruce, T. F., Bridges, W. C., & Klaine, S. J. (2015) · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · doi:10.1002/etc.3093 · Cited by 628

Understanding the fragmentation pattern of marine plastic debris

ter Halle, A., Ladirat, L., Gendre, X., Goudouneche, D., Pusineri, C., Routaboul, C., Tenailleau, C., Duployer, B., & Perez, E. (2016) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.6b00594 · Cited by 613

Microplastics in aquatic environments: implications for Canadian ecosystems

Anderson, J. C., Park, B. J., & Palace, V. P. (2016) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2016.06.074 · Cited by 624

Is there any consistency between the microplastics found in the field and those used in laboratory experiments?

Phuong, N. N., Zalouk-Vergnoux, A., Poirier, L., Kamari, A., Châtel, A., Mouneyrac, C., & Lagarde, F. (2016) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2015.12.035 · Cited by 526

Synthetic microfibers in the marine environment: a review on their occurrence in seawater and sediments

Gago, J., Carretero, O., Filgueiras, A. V., & Viñas, L. (2018) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2017.11.070 · Cited by 503

Assimilation of Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers from Microplastics by the Marine Amphipod, Allorchestes Compressa

Chua, E. M., Shimeta, J., Nugegoda, D., Morrison, P. D., & Clarke, B. O. (2014) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es405717z · Cited by 494

Marine Microbial Assemblages on Microplastics: Diversity, Adaptation, and Role in Degradation

Oberbeckmann, S., & Labrenz, M. (2020) · Annual Review of Marine Science · doi:10.1146/annurev-marine-010419-010633 · Cited by 471

Dispersion, Accumulation, and the Ultimate Fate of Microplastics in Deep-Marine Environments: A Review and Future Directions

Kane, I. A., & Clare, M. A. (2019) · Frontiers in Earth Science · doi:10.3389/feart.2019.00080 · Cited by 476

Exposure to microplastics (<10 μm) associated to plastic bottles mineral water consumption: The first quantitative study

Zuccarello, P., Ferrante, M., Cristaldi, A., Copat, C., Grasso, A., Sangregorio, D., Fiore, M., & Oliveri Conti, G. (2019) · Water Research · doi:10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.091 · Cited by 425

Ingestion of Microplastic Has Limited Impact on a Marine Larva

Kaposi, K. L., Mos, B., Kelaher, B. P., & Dworjanyn, S. A. (2014) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es404295e · Cited by 406

When Microplastic Is Not Plastic: The Ingestion of Artificial Cellulose Fibers by Macrofauna Living in Seagrass Macrophytodetritus

Remy, F., Collard, F., Gilbert, B., Compère, P., Eppe, G., & Lepoint, G. (2015) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b02005 · Cited by 378

Sampling and Quality Assurance and Quality Control: A Guide for Scientists Investigating the Occurrence of Microplastics Across Matrices

Brander, S. M., Renick, V. C., Foley, M. M., Steele, C., Woo, M., Lusher, A., Carr, S., Helm, P., Box, C., Cherniak, S., et al. (2020) · Applied Spectroscopy · doi:10.1177/0003702820945713 · Cited by 389

Interaction of Environmental Pollutants with Microplastics: A Critical Review of Sorption Factors, Bioaccumulation and Ecotoxicological Effects

Menéndez-Pedriza, A., & Jaumot, J. (2020) · Toxics · doi:10.3390/toxics8020040 · Cited by 381

Tyre wear particles: an abundant yet widely unreported microplastic?

Knight, L. J., Parker-Jurd, F. N. F., Al-Sid-Cheikh, M., & Thompson, R. C. (2020) · Environmental Science and Pollution Research · doi:10.1007/s11356-020-08187-4 · Cited by 369

Microplastic in two South Carolina Estuaries: occurrence, distribution, and composition

Gray, A. D., Wertz, H., Leads, R. R., & Weinstein, J. E. (2018) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.01.030 · Cited by 339

Microplastics alter composition of fungal communities in aquatic ecosystems

Kettner, M. T., Rojas‐Jimenez, K., Oberbeckmann, S., Labrenz, M., & Grossart, H. (2017) · Environmental Microbiology · doi:10.1111/1462-2920.13891 · Cited by 282

Fate of Microplastics in the Marine Isopod Idotea emarginata

Hämer, J., Gutow, L., Köhler, A., & Saborowski, R. (2014) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/es501385y · Cited by 286

UV degradation of natural and synthetic microfibers causes fragmentation and release of polymer degradation products and chemical additives

Sørensen, L., Groven, A. S., Hovsbakken, I. A., Del Puerto, O., Krause, D. F., Sarno, A., & Booth, A. M. (2021) · Science of The Total Environment · doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143170 · Cited by 278

Biodegradability standards for carrier bags and plastic films in aquatic environments: a critical review.

Harrison, J. P., Boardman, C., O'Callaghan, K., Delort, A.-M., & Song, J. (2018) · Royal Society Open Science · doi:10.1098/rsos.171792 · Cited by 271

Secondary Microplastics Generation in the Sea Swash Zone With Coarse Bottom Sediments: Laboratory Experiments

Efimova, I., Bagaeva, M., Bagaev, A., Kileso, A., & Chubarenko, I. P. (2018) · Frontiers in Marine Science · doi:10.3389/fmars.2018.00313 · Cited by 214

Small microplastics as a main contributor to plastic mass balance in the North Atlantic subtropical gyre

Poulain, M., Mercier, M. J., Brach, L., Martignac, M., Routaboul, C., Perez, E., Desjean, M. C., & ter Halle, A. (2019) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.8b05458 · Cited by 208

Plastic Particle Ingestion by Wild Freshwater Fish: A Critical Review

Collard, F., Gasperi, J., Gabrielsen, G. W., & Tassin, B. (2019) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.9b03083 · Cited by 203

The Effect of Microplastic on the Uptake of Chemicals by the Lugworm Arenicola marina (L.) under Environmentally Relevant Exposure Conditions

Besseling, E., Foekema, E. M., van den Heuvel-Greve, M. J., & Koelmans, A. A. (2017) · Environmental Science & Technology · doi:10.1021/acs.est.7b02286 · Cited by 153

Spatial Occurrence and Effects of Microplastic Ingestion on the Deep-Water Shrimp Aristeus antennatus

Carreras-Colom, E., Constenla, M., Soler-Membrives, A., Cartes, J. E., Baeza, M., Padrós, F., & Carrassón, M. (2018) · Marine Pollution Bulletin · doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2018.05.012 · Cited by 128

Microplastics in oysters (Crassostrea gigas) and water at the Bahía Blanca Estuary (Southwestern Atlantic): An emerging issue of global concern

Fernández Severini, M. D., Villagran, D. M., Buzzi, N. S., & Sartor, G. C. (2019) · Regional Studies in Marine Science · doi:10.1016/j.rsma.2019.100829 · Cited by 93

Spatial Variability and Influence of Biological Parameters on Microplastic Ingestion by Boops boops (L.) along the Italian Coasts (Western Mediterranean Sea)

Sbrana, A., Valente, T., Scacco, U., Bianchi, J., Silvestri, C., Palazzo, L., de Lucia, G. A., Valerani, C., Ardizzone, G., & Matiddi, M. (2020) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114429 · Cited by 82

Raman and ATR-FTIR unmask crystallinity changes and carboxylate group and vinyl group accumulation in natural weathering polypropylene microplastics

Anshari, R., Tsuboi, M., Sato, H., Tashiro, K., & Ozaki, Y. (2025) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-025-85837-y · Cited by 78

Plastic microbeads: Small yet mighty concerning

Miraj, S. S., Parveen, N., & Zedan, H. S. (2021) · International Journal of Environmental Health Research · doi:10.1080/09603123.2019.1689233 · Cited by 73

The Effect of Microplastic Ingestion on Survival of the Grass Shrimp Palaemonetes pugio (Holthuis, 1949) Challenged with Vibrio campbellii

Leads, R. R., Burnett, K. G., & Weinstein, J. E. (2019) · Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry · doi:10.1002/etc.4545 · Cited by 54

Intertidal zone effects on Occurrence, fate and potential risks of microplastics with perspectives under COVID-19 pandemic

Wu, P., Zhang, H., Singh, N., Tang, Y., & Cai, Z. (2022) · Chemical Engineering Journal · doi:10.1016/j.cej.2021.132351 · Cited by 45

Characterization of petroleum-based plastics and their absorbed trace metals from the sediments of the Marina Beach in Chennai, India

Suman, T. Y., Li, W.-G., Alif, S., Faris, V. R. P., Amarnath, D. J., Ma, J.-G., & Pei, D.-S. (2020) · Environmental Sciences Europe · doi:10.1186/s12302-020-00388-5 · Cited by 45

Sublethal effects of bio-plastic microparticles and their components on the behaviour of Daphnia magna.

Savva, K., Farré, M., & Barata, C. (2023) · Environmental Research · doi:10.1016/j.envres.2023.116775 · Cited by 41

Temporal patterns of plastic contamination in surface waters at the SS Yongala shipwreck, Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Miller, M. E., Santana, M. F. M., Carsique, M., Motti, C. A., Hamann, M., & Kroon, F. J. (2022) · Environmental Pollution · doi:10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119545 · Cited by 13