J.-M. Boucher · 2017 · Global quantification and source-evaluation report · n=?

Primary microplastics in the oceans: A global evaluation of sources

Cited 1728 times in the scientific literature.

Level 5 - mechanism / opinion, no new human data

Level 5 by design analogy for non-clinical scholarship (global modeling and evaluation report).

OpenAlex W2755306482 · doi:10.2305/iucn.ch.2017.01.en · record verified 2026-08-29

What was done

The report evaluated and quantified global sources of primary microplastics leaking into freshwater systems and oceans. Specific modeling techniques, datasets, and measurement methods were not detailed in the abstract.

What was found

The abstract provides no numerical data, baseline estimates, or specific source breakdowns, reporting only qualitatively that primary microplastics are a major source of plastics in the oceans globally.

Why it matters

It represents an early global assessment highlighting primary microplastics as distinct and substantial contributors to marine plastic pollution.

Limits

The abstract provides no methodology, sample size, or quantitative metrics. As a high-level summary, it lacks validation details, uncertainty bounds, and explicit evaluation criteria.

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