Recent publications
This section is updated regularly. For a list of all publications please check below
(2024) Policy brief - Plastic pollution and the plastisphere: findings and recommendations
Plastic pollution is an environmental concern due to the magnitude of mismanaged plastics reaching the environment and affecting it in different ways. Their physicochemical properties, including their light weight, resistance to corrosion and low degradation rates, allow plastics to travel great distances in the environment. Plastics undergo weathering, degradation, and fragmentation processes through exposure to ultraviolet radiation, abrasion, and interactions with biota. The JPI Oceans funded ‘MicroplastiX’ project explored the interaction between plastics, microorganisms, and the biofilm layer at the surface, which is a less studied scientific area. Moreover, the project also focussed on the organic and inorganic pollutants in this surface biofilm layer, commonly known as ‘plastisphere’.
This brief highlights the main project findings resulting from case-studies carried out in the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea. These aimed to assess the (1) environmental microplastic (MP) concentrations, (2) genetic diversity and accumulation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and trace metals in the plastisphere and the (3) polymer type spectral changes from in situ experiments. The aim of this international collaborative and interdisciplinary project was to improve the understanding of how degradation mechanisms affect plastics in natural environments. The team included a network of scientists from diverse research fields (chemistry, biology, microbiology, physics and mathematical modelling), and countries (Sweden, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Ireland, and Brazil), working in synergy to address gaps on the pathways and fate of plastics in coastal and open ocean waters.
(2024) Tardigrades in the marine plastisphere: New hitchhikers surfing plastics
Tardigrades are remarkable microorganisms known for their extraordinary resilience in diverse environments, including extreme conditions such as outer space. They are known for their interactions with natural substrates in terrestrial and aquatic systems, but have remained largely unexplored in relation to marine plastics. This study aims to investigate the colonization of plastics, ranging from fossil fuel-based to bioplastics, in the coastal zones of four countries (Brazil, Ireland, France and Italy). Here, we report the first documented occurrence of tardigrades colonizing plastic substrates. We identified five amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) belonging to the Tardigrada phylum, specifically in a post-consumer polypropylene, in the coastal zone of Galway, Ireland. This discovery raises questions about the characteristics of different plastics influencing on tardigrades' adhesion. Tardigrades hitchhiking on plastics in the oceans could expand their habitat range, possibly displacing native species and altering trophic interactions, with potential consequences for the overall biodiversity.
(2024) Cory's shearwater as a key bioindicator for monitoring floating plastics
The potential of using organisms as bioindicators of marine litter has been an area of general interest in multiple scientific and monitoring programs across the globe. Procellariiformes seabirds are particularly vulnerable to plastic contamination, which makes them a research focus group. This study investigated plastic ingestion in deceased fledglings and adults Cory’s shearwaters (Calonectris borealis) collected over eight years (2015 to 2022) at two Atlantic archipelagos: the Azores and the Canaries. Necropsies were carried out in a total of 1,238 individuals showing a high prevalence of plastic ingestion (90%), with approximately 80% of items recovered from the gizzard. Fledglings carried greater plastic loads compared to adults, yet plastic morphologies were similar between both age classes. The temporal analyses conducted with generalised additive mixed-effect models revealed a distinct temporal trend in plastic numbers, but not in terms of plastic mass. In addition, the spatial analyses showed that Cory’s shearwaters from the Canary Islands ingest a higher quantity of plastic and a greater proportion of threadlike items than the Azorean animals. These results suggest higher contamination at the NW Africa foraging grounds next to the Canaries and highlight fisheries as a potential source of marine litter in that region. On the other hand, the information gathered from the Azorean birds suggests they would be able to monitor changes in the composition of the plastic items floating in the North Atlantic Subtropical Gyre. Overall, our outcomes support the use of Cory’s shearwater fledglings that are victims of light pollution as a key bioindicator of plastic contamination. For its policy application, the presented threshold value in combination with the assessment method will enable effective tracking of floating plastic litter in the framework of MSFD and OSPAR.
Peer-reviewed Papers
(2024) Yasmina Rodríguez, Airam Rodríguez, Willem M.G.M. van Loon, João M. Pereira, João Frias, Emily M. Duncan, Sofia Garcia, Laura Herrera, Cristina Marqués, Verónica Neves, Cristopher Domínguez-Hernández, Javier Hernández-Borges, Beneharo Rodríguez, Christopher K. Pham. Cory's shearwater as a key bioindicator for monitoring floating plastics. Environmental International.
(2024). Clara Rodrigues, Yasmina Rodríguez, João Frias, Rita Carriço, Paula Sobral, Joana Antunes, Emily M. Duncan, Christopher K. Pham. Microplastics in beach sediments of the Azores archipelago, NE Atlantic. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 201, 116243.
(2024). João Frias, Haleigh Joyce, Loann Brozzetti, Elena Pagter, Mateja Švonja, Fiona Kavangh, Róisín Nash. Spatial monitoring of microplastics in environmental matrices from Galway Bay, Ireland. Marine Pollution Bulletin 200, 116153
(2024). Lacerda, Ana Luzia, Frias, João, Pedrotti, Maria Luiza, Tardigrades in the Marine Plastisphere: New Hitchhikers Surfing Plastics. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 200, 116071
(2024) Frias, J., Müller, C., & Capuano, T. A. . Policy brief - Plastic pollution and the plastisphere: findings and recommendations. Zenodo.
(2023). Lacerda, Ana Luzia and Frias, João and Pedrotti, Maria Luiza, Tardigrades in the Marine Plastisphere: New Hitchhikers Surfing Plastics. SSRN (Pre-print)
(2023) Lenz, Robin, Fischer, Franziska, Arnold, Melinda, Fernández-González, Verónica, Moscoso Pérez, Carmen María, Andrade-Garda, José Manuel, Muniategui-Lorenzo, Soledad, Frias, João, Casotti, Raffaella, Pedrotti, Maria-Luiza, Fischer, Dieter. MicroPlastiX SpecDB Zenodo. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.10149551 Data visualisation https://microplastix-specdb.streamlit.app/
(2023). Shi, H., Frias, J., Sayed, A., Enrique De-la-Torre, G., Jong, M., Uddin, S., Rajaram, R., Chavanich, S., Najii, Fernández-Severini M. D., Ibrahim Y., Su, L., Small plastic fragments: A bridge between large plastic debris and micro- & nano-plastics. TrAC Trends in Analytical Chemistry, 168, 117308.
(2023) Zheng, Y., Mohamed, H., De-la-Torre, G., Frias, J., Jong, M., Kolandhasamy, P., Chavanich, S., Deng, H., Zhao, W., Shi, H. Holes on surfaces of the weathered plastic fragments from coastal beaches. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 193, 115180.
(2023) Joyce, H., Nash, R., Frias, J., White, J., Cau, A., Carreras-Colm, E., Kavanagh, F. Monitoring microplastic pollution: The potential and limitations of Nephrops norvegicus. Ecological Indicators, 154, 110441.
(2023) Ann Tracy Paul, Colin Hannon, Mateja Švonja, Iarfhlaith Connellan, João Frias. Efficacy of microplastic depuration on two commercial oyster species from the west coast of Ireland. Journal of World Aquaculture Society, 1– 18.
(2023) Lima, C., Melo Jr., M., Schwamborn, S., Kessler, F., Oliveira, L., Ferreira, B., Magalhães, G., Frias, J., Neumann-Leitão. Zooplankton exposure to microplastic contamination in a estuarine plume-influenced region, in Northeast Brazil. Environmental Pollution, 121072
(2023) Nash, R., Joyce, H., Pagter, E., Frias, J., Guinan J., Healy, L., Kavanagh, F., Deegan, M., O’Sullivan, D., Deep Sea Microplastic Pollution Extends Out to Sediments in the Northeast Atlantic Ocean Margins Environmental Science and Technology, 57, 1, 201–213
(2022) MICRO 2022. Lanzarote Declaration, MICRO 2022 for the UN Treaty on Plastic Pollution. MICRO 2022, Online Atlas Edition: Plastic Pollution from MACRO to nano (MICRO 2022).
(2022) Doyle, D., Frias, J., Gammell, M., Lynch, M., Nash, R., Assessing the morphological impacts of long-term harvesting in intertidal gastropods using historical data and morphometric tools Journal of Molluscan Studies, Volume 88, Issue 3, September 2022, eyac019
(2022) Joyce, H., Nash, R., Kavanagh, F., Power, T., White, J., Frias, J., Size dependent egestion of polyester fibres in the Dublin Bay Prawn (Nephrops norvegicus) Marine Pollution Bulletin, 180, 113768.
(2022) Joyce , H., Frias, J., Kavanagh, F., Lynch, R., Pagter, E., White, J., Nash, R. Plastics, prawns, and patterns: Microplastic loadings in Nephrops norvegicus and surrounding habitat in the North East Atlantic. Science of The Total Environment. Vol. 826, 154036
(2021) Yamashita, R., Hiki, N., Kashiwada, F., Takada, H., Mizukawa, K., Hardesty, B. D., Roman, L., Hyrembach, D., Ryan, P. G., Dilley, B., Muñoz-Pérez, J. P., Valle, C. A., Pham, C. K., Frias, João, Nishizawa, B., Takahashi, A., Thiebot, J., Will, A., Kokubun, N., Watanabe, Y., Yamamoto, T., Shiomi, K., Shimabukuro, U., Watanuki, Y., Plastic additives and legacy persistent organic pollutants in the preen gland oil of seabirds sampled across the globe. Environmental Monitoring and Contaminants Research Vol.1, pp.1–16, 2021
(2021) Pagter, E., Nash, R., Frias, J., Kavanagh, F.,. Assessing microplastic distribution within infaunal benthic communities in a coastal embayment. Science of The Total Environment 791, 148278
(2021) Frias, J., Ivar do Sul, J., Panti, C., Lima, A. Editorial: Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Sources, Distribution, Biological Effects andSocio-Economic Impacts. Frontiers Environmental Science. Access the full special issue here and download the PDF there.
(2020) Pagter, E., Frias, J, Kavanagh, F; Nash, R. Differences in microplastic abundances within demersal communities highlight the importance of an ecosystem-based approach to microplastic monitoring. Marine Pollution Bulletin, Volume 160, November 2020, 111644
(2020) Pagter, E., Frias, J.P.G.L, Kavanagh, F; Nash, R. Varying levels of microplastics in benthic sediments within a shallow coastal embayment. Estuarine Coastal and Shelf Science. Volume 243, 30 September 2020, 106915
(2020) Frias, J.P.G.L, Lyashevska, O., Joyce, H., Pagter, E., Nash, R. Floating microplastics in a coastal embayment: A multifaceted issue. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 111361
(2020) Pham, C., Pereira, J. M., Frias, J.P.G.L, Ríos, N., Carriço, R., Juliano, M., Rodríguez, Y. Beaches of the Azores archipelago as a transitory repository for small plastic fragments floating in the North-East Atlantic. Environmental Pollution, 114494.
(2020) Darragh Doyle, João Frias, Róisín Nash, Martin Gammell. Current environmental microplastic levels do not alter emergence behaviour in the intertidal gastropod Littorina littorea. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 151, 110859.
(2020) Jenevieve Hara, João Frias, Róisín Nash. Quantification of microplastic ingestion by the decapod crustacean Nephrops norvegicus from Irish waters. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 152, 110905.
(2019) Darragh Doyle, Martin Gammell, João Frias, Gráinne Griffin, Róisín Nash. Low levels of microplastics recorded from the common periwinkle, Littorina littorea on the west coast of Ireland. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 149, 110645.
(2019) Kanhai, L.D., Johansson, C., Frias JPGL, Gardfeldt, K., Thompson, R. C., O’Connor, I. Deep sea sediments of the Arctic Central Basin: A potential sink for microplastics. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers.
(2019) Frias JPGL,Nash, R. Microplastics: Finding a consensus on the definition. Marine Pollution Bulletin 138, pp., 145-147.
(2018) Pagter, E., Frias, J., Nash, R. Microplastics in Galway Bay: A comparison of sampling and separation methods. Marine Pollution Bulletin 135, pp. 932-940.
(2018) Rios, N., Frias JPGL, Rodriguez, Y., Carriço, R., Garcia, S., Juliano, M., Pham, C. Spatio-temporal variability of beached macro-litter on remote islands of the North Atlantic. Marine Pollution Bulletin 133, pp. 304-311.
(2018) Antunes, J., Frias, J., Sobral, P. Microplastics on the Portuguese Coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin 131, 294-302.
(2018) Bessa, F., Barría P, Neto J.M., Frias JPGL, Otero V., Sobral P, Marques J.C. Ocurrence of microplastics in commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 128, pp. 575-584
(2017) Pham, C., Rodríguez, Y., Dauphin, A., Carriço, R., Frias, J.P.G.L, Vandeperre, F., Otero, V., Santos, M. R., Martins, H. R., Bolten, A. B. Plastic ingestion in oceanic-stage loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) off the North Atlantic subtropical gyre. Marine Pollution Bulletin.
(2016) Frias JPGL, Gago J, Otero V, Sobral P. Microplastics in coastal sediments from Southern Portuguese shelf waters. Marine Environmental Research, 114: 24–30.
(2014) Frias JPGL, Otero V, Sobral P. Evidence of microplastics in samples of zooplankton from Portuguese coastal waters. Marine Environmental Research, 95: 89-95.
(2013) Antunes, J.C., Frias, J.P.G.L., Micaelo, A. C., Sobral, P. Resin pellets from beaches of the Portuguese coast and adsorbed persistent organic pollutants. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science, 130: 62-69.
(2013) Mizukawa, K., Takada, H., Ito, M., Bee Geok, Y., Hosoda, J., Yamashita, R., Saha, M., Suzuki, S., Miguez, C., Frias, J., Antunes, J. C., Sobral, P., Santos, I., Micaelo, C., Ferreira, A. M. (2013). Monitoring of a wide range of organic micropollutants on the Portuguese coast using plastic resin pellets. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 70: 296-302.
(2013) Frias, J.P.G.L., Antunes, J. C., Sobral, P. Local marine litter survey – A case study in Alcobaça municipality, Portugal. Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 13 (2): 169-179.
(2011) Frias, J., Martins J., Sobral, P. Research in plastic marine debris in mainland Portugal. Journal of Integrated Coastal Zone Management, 11 (1): 145-148.
(2010) Frias, J., Sobral, P., Ferreira, A.M. Organic pollutants in microplastics from two beaches of the Portuguese coast. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 60: 1988-1992.
Technical reports
(2022). Joyce, H., Frias, J., Kavanagh, F., White, J. and Nash, R. . Nephrops and Microplastics EMFF 2014-2020, Marine Institute Report Series. Marine Institute
(2021) Stothra Bhashyam, S., Nash, R., Deegan, M., Pagter, E., Frias., J., (2021). Microplastics in the marine environment: sources, impacts and recommendations. Research@THEA
(2021) European Commission Joint Research Centre. Current status of the quantification of microplastics in water - resutls of a JRC/BAM inter-laboratory comparison study on PET in water. JRC technical report. (Participated in this study)
(2019) Filipa Bessa, João P.G.L. Frias, Tanja Knögel, Amy Lusher, Jose Manuel Andrade, Joana Antunes, Paula Sobral, Elena Pagter, Róisín Nash, Ian O’Connor, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Maria Emmanuelle Kerros, Victor León, Valentina Tirelli, Giuseppe Suaria, Clara Lopes, Joana Raimundo, Miguel Caetano, Jesús Gago, Lucía Viñas, Olga Carretero, Kerstin Magnusson, Maria Granberg, Rachid Dris, Marten Fischer, Barbara Scholz-Böttcher, Soledad Muniategui, Gloria Grueiro, Verónica Fernández, Luca Palazzo, Andrea de Lucia, Andrea Camedda, Carlo Giacomo Avio, Stefania Gorbi, Lucia Pittura, Francesco Regoli, Gunnar Gerdts. Harmonized Protocol for monitoring microplastics in biota JPI-Oceans BASEMAN project.
(2019) Ana Filgueras, Jesus Gago, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Guiseppe Suaria, Valentina Tirelli, Jose Andrade, João P.G.L. Frias, Róisín Nash, Ian O’Connor, Clara Lopes, Miguel Caetano, Joana Raimundo, Olga Carretero, Lucia Vinas, Joana Antunes, Filipa Bessa, Paula Sobral, Alenka Goruppi, Stefano Aliani, Luca Palazzo, Giuseppe Andrea de Lucia, Andrea Camedda, Soledad Muniategui, Gloria Gruceiro, Veronica Fernandez, Gunnar Gerdts. Standardised protocol for monitoring microplastics in seawater JPI-Oceans BASEMAN project.
(2018) João P.G.L. Frias, Elena Pagter, Róisín Nash, Ian O’Connor, Olga Carretero, Ana Filgueiras, Jesus Gago, Joana Antunes, Filipa Bessa, Paula Sobral, Alenka Goruppi, Valentina Tirelli, Maria Luiza Pedrotti, Giuseppe Suaria, Stefano Aliani, Clara Lopes, Joana Raimundo, Miguel Caetano, Luca Palazzo, Giuseppe Andrea de Lucia, Andrea Camedda, Soledad Muniategui, Gloria Grueiro, Veronica Fernandez, José Andrade, Rachid Dris, Christian Laforsch, Barbara M. Scholz-Böttcher, Gunnar Gerdts. Standardised protocol for monitoring microplastics in sediments. JPI-Oceans BASEMAN project.
(2017) Carretero, O., Frias, JPGL, Pereiro, D., Lopes, C., Antunes, J., Andrade, J., Camedda, A., Goruppi, A., de Lucia, G, A., Pedrotti, M. L., Sobral, P., Caetano, M., Tirelli, V., Nash, R., Gago, J. WP4: Microplastic sampling comparison.
(2016) Pham, C.K.; Dâmaso, C.; Frias, J.; Rodríguez, Y.; Carriço, R.; Ríos, N., Cruz, M.J. Establishing a baseline on marine litter in the Azores (Azorlit): Final technical report. Horta, Faial, Portugal. IMAR-MARE, Departamento de Oceanografia e Pescas da Universidade dos Açores: 119 pp.
(2013) Frias, J., Antunes, J. Sobral, P. Relatório de Estado de Poluição Marinha por Plásticos no Município de Alcobaça. FCT-UNL, Lisboa. 35p. (Report on the state of plastic marine pollution in the Alcobaça Municipality, in Portuguese).
Book Chapters
(2022) Joao Frias, Roisin Nash. Methodologies to Assess Microplastics in the Anthropocene. Influence of Microplastics on Environmental and Human Health. Taylor & Francis Group. ISBN 978-100-310-9730
(2021) Roisin Nash, Joao Frias, Alicia Mateos-Cardenas. Case study: Plastics in the Marine Environment. The Coastal Atlas of Ireland. pp. 775-780. Cork University Press. ISBN: 978-1-782-0545-11.
(2020) Frias, Joao. Sorption of potentially toxic elements to microplastics. Handbook of Microplastics in the Environment. Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020. Springer, Cham. ISBN: 978-3-030-10618-8. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-10618-8
(2018) Barboza, L. G. A., Frias J. P. G. L., Booth, A. M., Vieira, L. R., Masura, J., Baker, J., Foster, G., Guilhermino, L.. World Seas: An Environmental Evaluation. 2nd Edition. Chapter 18 - Marine Pollution by Microplastics: Environmental Contamination, Biological Effects, and Research Challenges. Volume III: Ecological Issues and Environmental Impacts. Academic Press. Paperback ISBN: 9780128050521. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-805052-1.00020-6
Laboratory Supervision
(2022), Katelyn Hegarty-Kelly, B.Sc., ATU, Ireland
(2022) Ann Tracy Paul, M.Sc., ATU, Ireland
(2019) Loann Brozetti, M.Sc. GMIT, Ireland
(2019) Davi Munhoz, M. Sc. GMIT, Ireland
(2019) Sindhura Shtrota Bhashyam, M.Sc. GMIT, Ireland
(2018) Clemence Finet, M.Sc. GMIT, Ireland
(2018) Jenevieve Hara, M.Sc., GMIT, Ireland
(2017) Elena Pagter, M.Sc., GMIT, Ireland
(2015) André Figueiredo, M.Sc. FCT’UNL, Caparica, Portugal
Thesis Supervision
(2021) Elena Pagter. Róisín Nash, Fiona Kavanagh, João Frias. Microplastics in Galway Bay: an ecosystem based approach.
(2019) Darragh Doyle, João Frias, Róisín Nash, Martin Gammell. Current environmental microplastic levels do not alter emergence behaviour in the intertidal gastropod Littorina littorea. PhD URL: https://research.thea.ie/handle/20.500.12065/2944
(2017) Elena Pagter. João Frias, Fiona Kavanagh, Róisín Nash. Microplastics in Galway Bay: A comparison of sampling and separation methods M.Sc. Thesis.
Thesis JURY
(2022) Laura Simon Sánchez. Microplastic pollution in transitional environments. Methods, occurrence, and fate of microplastics in the Mediterranean Sea. Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Spain.
(2022) Anne Justino. From the estuary to the deep sea: Microplastic contamination of fishes from Southwestern Tropical Atlantic. Ph.D. Thesis. Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Brazil
(2021) Marina Santana. Presence, abundance and effects of microplastics on the Great Barrier Reef. Ph.D. Thesis, James Cook University, Australia.
(2015) José Maria Candeias. Marine litter occurrence patterns along the Portuguese coast in the past decade. M.Sc. Thesis. Universidade de Lisboa, Portugal.
Proceeding of International meetings with referee
(2018) Bessa, F., Barría P., Neto, J.M., Frias, JPGL, Otero, V., Sobral, P., Marques, J.C. Microplastics in juvenile commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment, from the book: Proceedings of the International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Springer Water
(2017) Frias, JPGL., Carriço, R., Rodriguez, Y., Rios, N., Garcia, S., Pham., C. Marine Litter Accumulation in the Azorean Archipelago: Azorlit Preliminary Data. Micro 2016. Fate and Impact of Microplastics in Marine Ecosystems - from the coastline to the Open Sea. pp. 48.
(2010) GESAMP - Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection); Bowmer, T. and Kershaw, P.J., 2010 (Eds.), Proceedings of the GESAMP International Workshop on plastic particles as a vector in transporting persistent, bio-accumulating and toxic substances in the oceans. GESAMP Rep. Stud. No. 82, 68pp.
(2014) Sobral, P., Antunes, J., Frias, J. Microplastics – A never-ending story. in "Marine litter in the Mediterranean and Black Seas". [F.Briand,ed.] CIESM -Mediterranean Science Commission Workshop Monograph n°46. CIESM Publisher, Monaco. p. 125-136.
(2015) Sobral, P., Antunes, J., Ferraz, M., Ferro, F., Frias, J., Raposo, I. P., Quaresma, S., Louro, P., Oliveira, M. Marine litter: An issue with no borders – Portuguese Partnership on Marine Litter. ISSN: 2183-5322. Portuguese Marine Litter Association (APLM), Monte de Caparica, Portugal.
Posters
(2022) H. Joyce, J. Frias, F. Kavanagh, R. Lynch, E. Pagter, J. White, R. Nash. Microplastic abundances in Nephrops norvegicus and its surrounding sedimentary environment. Environ, Belfast (20-22 June 2022)
(2022) Frias, J., Pagter, E., Joyce, H., Brozzetti, L., Kavanagh, F., and Nash, R. Ecosystem based approach to microplastic monitoring. 7IMDC Busan South Korea (18-23 Sept 2022)
(2022) H. Joyce, J. Frias, F. Kavanagh, R. Lynch, E. Pagter, J. White, R. Nash. Microplastics, monitoring and the Dublin Bay Prawn. ICES, Dublin (18-23 Sept 2022)
(2022) Kavanagh, F., Hegarty-Kelly, K., Rooney, S., Frias, J., Joyce, H. and Nash, R. The impact of extreme weather events on microplastics in intertidal sediments within a coastal embayment. 7IMDC Busan South Korea (18-23 Sept 2022)
(2020) Frias, J.P.G.L, Lyashevska, O., Joyce, H., Pagter, E., Nash, R.. Is wind a good proxy for floating microplastics? A case study in Galway Bay, Ireland. MICRO2020, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (23rd-27th November 2020). Held online this year due to the coronavirus outbreak in Europe.
(2020) Frias, J., O’Connor, I., Nash, R.. Marine plastic litter in Ireland - Past, present & future. Connacht-Ulster Alliance (CUA) Research Symposium, Sligo, Ireland (17th January 2020)
(2018) Frias, J., O’Connor, I., Nash, R.. Standardised Protocol for Monitoring Microplastics in Sediments. MICRO2018, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (19th-23rd November 2018)
(2018) Pagter, E., Stornan, O., Keegan, S., Frias, J., Kavanagh F., Nash, R.,. Microplastics in Galway Bay: A preliminary Study. MICRO2018, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (19th-23rd November 2018)
(2018) Pagter, E., Frias, J., Kavanagh F., O’Connor, I., Nash, R.. Influence of sampling techniques and density separation methods on the quantification of benthic microplastics. Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, San Diego California, U.S.A. (12th-16th March 2018)
(2018) Frias, J., Pagter, E., O’Connor, I., Nash, R.,. Reducing the risk of cross-contamination through defining a standard operating procedure (SOP) for microplastic sampling, processing and identification. Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, San Diego California, U.S.A. (12th-16th March 2018)
(2018) Louro, P., Frias, J., Silva, F., Antunes, J., Quaresma, S., Ferro, F., Raposo, I., Sobral., P. Portuguese Partnership on Marine Litter – Achievements and call for action. Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, San Diego California, U.S.A. (12th-16th March 2018)
(2017) Frias, J., Nash, R., Carretero, O., Viñas, L., Gago, J., Lopes, C., Raimundo, J., Caetano, M., Antunes, J., Bessa, F., Sobral, P., Muniategui, S., Gueiro, G., Fernández, V., Andrade, J., Pedrotti, M. L., Lucia, G. A., Camedda, A., Palazzo, L., Tirelli, V., Suaria, G., Aliani, S., Haikonen, K., Magnusson, K., Mattsson K., Hassellöv, M., Kögel, T., Gerdts, G., (2017). Sampling methodologies for microplastics in the marine environment (WP4). 2nd JPI‑Oceans Conference. Lisbon, Portugal, 26th October.
(2016) Rodríguez. Y., Frias J.P.G.L., Carriço, R., Neves, V., Bried, J., Franeker, J., Pham, C.. Monitoring plastic ingestion in selected Azorean marine fauna: Azorlit preliminary data. Poster 101934. MICRO 2016: Fate and impact of microplastics in marine ecosystems from the coastline to the open sea. Lanzarote, Spain, 25-27th May.
(2016) Carriço, R., Frias J.P.G.L., Rodríguez, Y., Rios, N., Cruz, M. J., Dâmaso, C., Pham, C.. Tackling marine litter: Awareness and outreach in the Azores. Poster 103441. MICRO 2016: Fate and impact of microplastics in marine ecosystems from the coastline to the open sea. Lanzarote, Spain, 25‑27th May.
(2013) Frias, J. Sobral, P.. Characterization of Marine Debris on the Portuguese Coast and Implementation of Best Practices to Reduce Impacts, Second Conference on Global Land-Ocean Connections (GLOC-2) United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), in Jamaica, 2-4th October.
(2012) Sobral, P Antunes, J., Frias, J., Sobral P., Micaelo, C., Ferreira, AM.. Plastic marine debris and persistent organic pollutants along the Portuguese coast: How much and how many? Abstracts of the 97th Ecological Society of America-ESA Meeting, Portland, OR. USA. 6-10 August.
(2011) Frias J.P.G.L., Sobral, P., Ferreira, A.M.. Organic pollutants adsorbed to microplastics debris from two beaches of the Portuguese Coast. Poster extended abstracts from the 5th International Marine Debris Conference, Honolulu, Hawai, USA. p. 117-120. 20-25th March.
(2010) Martins, J, Sobral, P. Frias, J., . Plastic debris accumulation in the West coast of Portugal. 47th ECSA Meeting. Figueira da Foz, 14-19th September.
Invited talks, oral presentations and lectures
(2022). Lacerda, A., Pedrotti, M., Casotti, R., Donnarumma, V., Frias, J., et al., Biogeography, short and long-term effects of environmental factors, and influence of polymer type on plastics biofouling. 7IMDC Busan South Korea (18-23 Sept 2022)
(2022) Frias, J., Life after the PhD. Keynote speaker on the Doctoral Programme from Nova School of Science and Technology. Lisbon Portugal (15th July 2022).
(2022) Frias, J., Ocean Base Camp Marine Litter Global Cafe. United Nations Ocean Conference side event. Lisbon Portugal (30th June 2022).
(2021) Frias, J., Marine Litter research in Ireland and solutions. UN Global Compact Network, Jerónimo Martins & Biedronka. Online (27th August 2021).
(2021) Frias, J., Microplastic research in Galway Bay - West coast of Ireland. International Webinar on Microplastics in Aquatic Ecosystems. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) & Atatürk University. Online (29th April 2021).
(2019) Frias, J., Sample collection for microplastic analysis. PhD Course - Microplastic analysis applying µFTIR imaging, ATR-FTIR and other techniques. Aalborg, Denmark (26th November 2019)
(2019) Pagter, E., Frias, J., Kavanagh, F., Nash, R.. Microplastics in Galway Bay: Preliminary results from the benthos. Environ 2019 - Engagement for Climate Action, Carlow, Ireland (15th-17th April 2019).
(2018) Frias JPGL, Nash, R.,. Standardised methodologies: Challenges of implementation. Final JPI-Oceans meeting. Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (19th-23rd November 2018)
(2018) Rodrigues, Y, Rios, N., Frias JPGL, Pham, CK, et al.. Monitoring plastic pollution in the Azores archipelago: from surface down to the deep seafloor and in biota. MICRO2018, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands (19th-23rd November 2018)
(2018) Frias JPGL, O’Connor, I. Impacts of plastic litter on Irish marine birds – a Q&A talk in association with BirdWatch Galway. Galway Atlantaquaria, Salthill, Galway. (10th July 2018).
(2018) Frias JPGL, Gerdts, G.. Defining the baselines and standards for microplastics analyses in European waters (JPI-O BASEMAN). (2018) Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, San Diego California, U.S.A. (12th-16th March 2018)
(2018) Pham, CK, Frias JPGL, Rodrigues, Y, Carriço, R., et al.. Impacts of plastic pollution in the North Altantic subtropical gyre. Sixth International Marine Debris Conference, San Diego California, U.S.A. (12th-16th March 2018)
(2017) Bessa F, Barria P, Neto JM, Frias JPGL, Otero V, Sobral P, Marques JC. Microplastics in juvenile commercial fish from a natural estuarine environment. International Conference on Microplastic Pollution in the Mediterranean Sea. Capri, Italy, (26-29th September 2017)
(2017) Frias J.P.G.L.,. Marine litter: an issue with no borders. GMIT (September 29th 2017)
(2016) Bessa F, Barria P, Neto JM, Frias JPGL, Otero V, Sobral P, Marques JC. Extração e identificação de microplásticos em peixes no ambiente estuarino. MICROPLÁSTICOS 2016 – 1º Congresso Português sobre Microplásticos: Contaminação Ambiental por Microplásticos e suas Implicações para a Saúde dos Ecossistemas, Animal e Humana. Porto, Portugal, (19-20th December,).
(2016) Frias J.P.G.L.. 90 Segundos de Ciência - EP. 1 – Plástico no mar dos Açores ameaça a vida marinha.
(2016) Pham, C., Frias J.P.G.L., Carriço, R., Rodríguez, Y.. Monitorização de microplásticos na orla costeira do arquipélago dos Açores. MICROPLÁSTICOS 2016 (1st , 19th and 20th December.
(2016) Pham, C., Frias J.P.G.L., Carriço, R., Rodríguez, Y., Cruz, M. J., Ríos, N., Dâmaso, C.. Azorlit - Estabelecimento de pontos de referência para o lixo marinho nos Açores. Conferência Portuguesa sobre Lixo Marinho (1st ed.), 15th-17th September.
(2016) Frias J.P.G.L., Carriço, R., Rodríguez, Y., Pham, C.. Aprendendo com os erros: Adaptando metodologias para estimar o lixo marinho. Conferência Portuguesa sobre Lixo Marinho (1st ed.), 15th-17th September.
(2016) Frias J.P.G.L., Carriço, R., Rodríguez, Y., Rios, N., Garcia, S., Pham, C.. Marine litter accumulation in the Azorean archipelago: Azorlit preliminary data. Session VIIh. MICRO 2016: Fate and impact of microplastics in marine ecosystems from the coastline to the open sea. Lanzarote, Spain, 25-27th May.
(2016) Frias J.P.G.L., Sobral, P.. O lixo marinho na CPLP – Respostas Nacionais e Regionais para um problema glocal. East Timor, 15-18th May.
(2014) Frias J.P.G.L., Guest speaker on RTP Sociedade Civil (VIII) show. Portugal, 1st January. Full show in Portuguese available here.
(2014) Frias J.P.G.L., MARLISCO National Forum on Marine Litter. Member of the Panel on behalf of APLM. Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, Portugal, 24th October
(2014) Frias J.P.G.L., Sobral, P., (2014) - 2nd International Ocean Research Conference (2IORC) with the oral presentation: “Biomarker effects of the ingestion of different concentrations of microplastic particles by Mytilus galloprovincialis (Linnaeus, 1758)”, Abstracts from the 2nd International Ocean Research Conference. Barcelona, Spain. 17-21st November.
(2013) Frias, J.P.G.L., TEDx FCTUNL. Plastic Pollution - Water we doing? 4th October.
(2013) Frias, J., Sobral, P.. Distribution of Persistent Bioaccumulative and Toxic Chemicals in Plastic Pellets in Portugal - Collaboration with the International Pellet Watch (IPW), Abstracts from the International Coastal Symposium-ICS2013 Plymouth, 8-12th April
(2012) Frias, J., Sobral, P. (2012). Plastic vs. plankton – a struggle with no end in sight. Abstracts of 50th Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association Conference - ECSA50, Venice, Italy 3-7th June.
(2012) Antunes, J., Frias, J., Sobral P., Micaelo, C., Santos, I.. Plastic marine debris from beaches of the Portuguese coast: size distribution and concentration of persistent organic pollutants in resin pellets. Abstracts of the 50th Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association - ECSA50, Venice, Italy. 3-7 June.
(2011) Frias, J., Sobral, P.. Temporal analysis of microplastic concentrations in plankton samples. Abstracts of the 12th European Ecological Federation Congress, Ávila, Spain. 25-29 September.
(2011) Martins, J., Frias, J., Sobral, P.. Plastic marine debris in the Portuguese Coastline. Oral extended abstracts from the 5th International Marine Debris Conference, Honolulu, Hawai, USA. p. 218-221. 20-25th March
(2010) Frias, J. Sobral, P, Ferreira, A.M.. Organic pollutants in microplastics from two beaches of the Portuguese coast. Abstracts of the 47th Estuarine and Coastal Sciences Association Meeting- ECSA47. Figueira da Foz, Portugal. 14-19th September.
(2010) Frias, J. Sobral, P, Ferreira, A.M.. Poluição por plásticos em duas praias portuguesas. 12 Encontro Nacional de Ecologia. Porto.
(2010) Frias J.P.G.L., Sobral, P., Ferreira, A.M.. Microplastics: the poisoned "present”. Abstracts of the 3rd International Conference on Coastal Conservation and Management - ICCCM, Estoril, Portugal, 11-14th April.