Publications and Themes of Research 

*for full list of peer-reviewed journal articles, please see my Google Scholar page here.

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Research Theme #1 - Filling in the unknowns in the Global Plastic Cycle

In my research, I aim to fill in the unknowns in the global cycling of plastic pollution. I combine knowledge from the fields of statistical sciences, mathematical modelling, biogeochemistry, and oceanography to answers questions pertaining to the sources, transport, fate, and transformation of plastic pollution in the environment.​ To answer these questions, I quantify and characterize plastic pollution in the environment using analytical chemistry instrumentation and best practices, and I also develop novel methods for the quantification and identification of micro- and macro-plastics in environmental samples.

Select publications:

Haney, J., Zhu, X., Long, M., Schwenk, B., Hoellein, T., Wilfred, W., Lammers, R., Zuidema, S., & Rochman, C.M. (2025) The influence of flow on the amount, retention and loss of plastic pollution in an urban river. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society A, 383: 20230023. 

Schwenk, B., Kazmierczak, E.B., Petersen, F., Haney, J., Zhu, X., et al. (2025). Storm events influence the transport of macroplastics in urban streams. Water Environment Research.

Zhu, X., Rochman, C., and Mazloff, M. (2025). A First Attempt at Modeling the Global Reservoir of Plastic in Biota: A Case Study with Sea Turtles. Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans. 

Zhu, X., Rochman, C., Hardesty, B.D., and Wilcox, C. (2024). Plastics in the deep sea - a global estimate of the ocean floor reservoir. Deep Sea Research Part I: Oceanographic Research Papers. 

Zhu, X. (2021) The Plastic Cycle - an unknown branch of the Carbon Cycle. Frontiers in Marine Science.​​

Zhu, X. et al. (2021) Holistic assessment of microplastics and other anthropogenic microdebris in an urban bay sheds light on their sources and fate. Environmental Science & Technology Water. ​

Zhu, X. et al. (2019). Identification of microfibers in the environment using multiple lines of evidence. Environmental Science & Technology.

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Research Theme #2 - Plastic, biogeochemistry, and climate

I study how plastic pollution influences carbon cycling. I aim to elucidate the interconnections between plastics, carbon cycling, and climate change. A main narrative throughout my research is that plastic is an unknown branch of the global carbon cycle, and that both plastic pollution and climate change are consequences of human interference to carbon cycling.​

Select publications:

Royer, S.J. and Zhu, X. (2026) Greenhouse gas emissions from plastic photodegradation: State of knowledge and future directions. Environmental Research Letters, 21: 031002. 

Zhu, X. et al. (2025) The knowns and unknowns in our understanding of how plastics impact climate change: a systematic review. Frontiers in Environmental Science. 

Zhu, X. (2021) The Plastic Cycle - an unknown branch of the Carbon Cycle. Frontiers in Marine Science. ​

Zhu, X. (2021) Plastic is part of the carbon cycle and needs to be included in climate calculations. The Conversation.​

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Research Theme #3 - Environmental policy and finding solutions

One of my key research goals is to inform policy and mitigation strategies for environmental pollutants, including microplastic particles, tire dust, other forms of anthropogenic microdebris, litter, derelict fishing gear, and greenhouse gases. I connect science to management actions and propose policy tools to help tackle global environmental issues. ​

Select publications:

Zhu, X., Hoffman, M.J., and Rochman, C.M. (2024). A city-wide emissions inventory of plastic pollution. Environmental Science & Technology.

Werbowski, L.M., Gilbreath, A.N., Munno, K., Zhu, X., et al. (2021). Urban Stormwater Runoff: A Major Pathway for Anthropogenic Particles, Black Rubbery Fragments, and Other Types of Microplastics to Urban Receiving Waters.

Environmental Science & Technology Water. 

Zhu, X. (2021) "Polluter Pays Principle": Stopping fishing gear loss to our oceans requires greater accountability from fishers. The Starfish.​

Zhu, X. (2021) The social, environmental, and economic impacts of space colonization. The Starfish.​

Rochman, C., Munno, K., Box, C., Cummins, A., Zhu, X., and Sutton, R. (2020) Think global, act local: local knowledge is critical to inform positive change when it comes to microplastics. Environmental Science & Technology.

Zhu, X. (2015). Optimization of an elutriation device for the filtration of microplastic particles from sediment. Marine Pollution Bulletin.