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Updated: Mar 15, 2026

Sampling, Sorting, and Characterizing Microplastics in Aquatic Environments with High Suspended Sediment Loads and Large Floating Debris
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Plastics in the Marine Environment.

Kara Lavender Law1

  • 1Sea Education Association, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543;

Annual Review of Marine Science
|September 14, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Marine plastic pollution is widespread, impacting wildlife. Immediate source reduction measures are needed to mitigate risks from increasing plastic production and contamination in marine ecosystems.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Marine Biology
  • Ecotoxicology

Background:

  • Marine plastic contamination documented for 50 years, coinciding with rising production.
  • Global plastic production significantly increased, surpassing 300 million metric tons annually by 2014.
  • Plastic debris found globally in diverse marine habitats, ranging from microscopic to meter-sized.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To present a framework for evaluating current knowledge on marine plastics.
  • To assess sources, distribution, fate, and impacts of plastic pollution.
  • To inform strategies for mitigating risks to marine ecosystems.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and synthesis of existing research on marine plastics.
  • Framework development for assessing knowledge gaps and research needs.
Keywords:
contaminationimpactsocean pollutionplastic debrisresearch prioritiesrisk analysis

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  • Analysis of trends in plastic production and environmental detection.

    • Main Results:

    • Ubiquitous presence of plastic contamination across marine environments confirmed.
    • Evidence of impacts on marine wildlife, though limited, is growing.
    • Significant knowledge gaps persist in mass budgeting and ecological impact assessment.

    Conclusions:

    • Despite knowledge gaps, the pervasive nature of marine plastic pollution necessitates action.
    • Continued growth in plastic production exacerbates environmental risks.
    • Implementing source-reducing measures is crucial for decreasing risks to marine ecosystems.