[This nonGeographicDataset is embargoed until June 4, 2026]. This dataset contains information about the weight of plastic (polycaprolactone) beads that were incubated in 10ml of Luria Bertani broth for 5 days at 37 degrees Celsius. Three replicates were performed. The bacterial cells had been modified to harbour plasmids that encoded genes to degrade plastic and/or to trigger the cells to form biofilms, the expression of these genes was induced using Isopropyl β-d-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG). An empty plasmid was used as the control. The work was supported by the Natural Environment Research Council (Grant NE/X010902/1), as part of an experiment looking into using synthetic biology to manipulate bacterial social behaviours to maximise the microbial degradation of environmental waste plastics. Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/bd582f82-ba16-4bc6-8a25-ec29bb22bb5b

This dataset contains a range of plant, soil, plastic and environmental measurements, which was collated over a 4-year period following a repeated field experiment. The data is to investigate the effect of biodegradable and conventional plastic mulch film application on crop (maize) and soil properties. The remaining mulch film on the soil surface of each plot was incorporated into the soil after each growing season to simulate realistic plastic input. The details can be found in the lineage field and the supporting document. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/cf557a25-78b4-49c7-9993-b32a7ed814b5

This dataset contains field data on nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, microbial community composition, crop yield and growth and soil biochemical properties. The field trial consisted of three different treatments of control, conventional microplastic addition and biodegradable microplastic addition where winter barley was grown. The data presented are from field and laboratory measurements. Data was collected by the data authors. The field trial was carried out from September 2020 to July 2021 at Henfaes Field Centre, UK. Research was funded through NERC Grant NE/V005871/1. Do agricultural microplastics undermine food security and sustainable development in developing countries? Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/a5410834-1c38-455b-a850-3fb3434d4bb0

This dataset contains ecotoxicological measurements of coastal plant species Plantago coronopus, following exposure to microplastics and seawater inundation. The variables measured include mortality, growth, reproductive output, necrosis and photosynthetic efficiency, recorded over a total duration of 64-days. This dataset was created as part of an experiment to investigate the effects of exposure to commercial pre-production biodegradable (polybutylene adipate terephthalate, PBAT) and conventional (Polyethylene terephthalate, PET) microplastics (0.2 % w/w). Work was supported by the NERC funded BIO-PLASTIC-RISK project, grant NE/V007556/1. Full details about this nonGeographicDataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/6c95ed4f-bf16-40bb-8a16-ceb56aab1986

Marine debris washed up on beaches on Goudier Island has been recorded since 2014. Surveys are conducted on a monthly basis when the station is occupied during the summer season. This data contributes to the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR) Marine Debris programme.

This dataset provides numbers and types of plastic particles extracted from sediment samples of three tributaries of the river Thames: the River Leach, the River Lambourn and The Cut. These rivers are regularly monitored for a range of water quality and biological characteristics as part of the ongoing CEH Thames initiative project. Four sampling sites were selected based on the average percentage of effluent present in the river and population equivalent density to represent scenarios ranging from low sewage input and population equivalent density (Leach and Lanbourn) through an intermediate site (the Cut) to a site with high sewage input and population equivalent density (also in the Cut). The samples were collected between late August and early September 2014. The data provides information on the site characteristics, dry weight of sediment analysed (in grams), number of microplastic particles extracted and characteristics of particles (including shape, colour and polymer type). Types of polymers identified include: polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene terephthalate, nylon and polyester. Full details about this dataset can be found at https://doi.org/10.5285/93837492-408f-4349-8dcd-ee833e84e47e