Dr Matthew Cole

Senior Marine Ecologist and Ecotoxicologist

mcol@pml.ac.uk | +44 (0)1752 633100 (switchboard)

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"I am interested in exploring how human activities can impact upon the natural environment, and exploring how nature can be harnessed to help tackle pollution"

Dr Matthew Cole is a senior marine ecologist and ecotoxicologist based at Plymouth Marine Laboratory. Matthew’s research centres upon how human activity and pollution can impact upon the natural environment.

Since 2010, Matthew’s research has focussed upon better understanding the risks plastic pollution poses to marine ecosystems. His pioneering research was the first to identify the negative impact microplastics can have upon marine zooplankton and marine ecological processes.

Matthew is currently spearheading projects investigating the effects of antifouling paint particles, biodegradable plastics and tyre-wear particles on coastal and estuarine ecosystems, and exploring nature based solutions to microplastic pollution.

Matthew has received funding from the Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Newton-Paulet foundation, Royal Society and the Waitrose Plastic Plan Fund. Matthew currently supervises postdoctoral (PhD and Masters) students in collaboration with the University of East Anglia, University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter.

Key projects

Lost at Sea (TYRE-LOSS)
BIO-RISK
GCRF: Pacific Plastic, Science to Solutions

Selected publications

Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Halsband, C., Galloway, T.S. (2013). Microplastics as contaminants in the marine environment: A review. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 62 (12), 2588-2597.
Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Fileman, E., Halsband, C., Goodhead, R., Moger, J., Galloway, T.S. (2013). Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton. Environmental Science & Technology, 47 (12), 6646-6655.
Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Fileman, E., Halsband, C., Galloway, T.S. (2015). The impact of polystyrene microplastics on feeding, function and fecundity in the marine copepod Calanus helgolandicus. Environ. Sci. Technol., 49(2), 1130–1137.
Galloway, T., Cole, M. & Lewis, C. (2017). Interactions of microplastic debris throughout the marine ecosystem. Nat. Ecol. Evol. 1, 0116.
Hartmann, N. B., H眉ffer, T., Thompson, R.C., Hassell枚v, M., Verschoor, A., Daugaard, A.E., Rist, S., Karlsson, T., Brennholt, N., Cole, M., Herrling, M.P., Hess, M.C., Ivleva, N.P., Lusher, A.L., Wagner, M. (2019). Are we speaking the same language? Recommendations for a definition and categorization framework for plastic debris. Environmental Science & Technology, 53 (3), 1039-1047.
Cole, M., Lindeque, P., Fileman, E., Clark, J., Lewis, C., Halsband, C., Galloway, T.S. (2016) Microplastics alter the properties and sinking rates of zooplankton faecal pellets. Environmental Science & Technology, 50 (6), 3239-3246.

Recent publications

Cole, MJ; Gomiero, A; Jaén-Gil, A; Haave, M; Lusher, A; 2024. Microplastic and PTFE contamination of food from cookware. Science of The Total Environment.
Aguirre-Sanchez, A; Purca, S; Cole, MJ; Indacochea, A; Lindeque, PK; 2024. Prevalence of microplastics in Peruvian mangrove sediments and edible mangrove species. Marine Pollution Bulletin.
McIlwraith, HK; Lindeque, PK; Miliou, A; Tolhurst, TJ; Cole, MJ; 2024. Microplastic shape influences fate in vegetated wetlands. Environmental Pollution.
Song, SJ; van Dijk, F; Vasse, GF; Liu, Q; Gosselink, IF; Weltjens, E; Remels, AHV; de Jager, MH; Bos, S; Li, C; Stoeger, T; Rehberg, M; Kutschke, D; van Eck, G; Wu, X; Willems, SH; Boom, D; Kooter, IM; Spierings, D; Wardenaar, R; Cole, MJ; Nawijn, MC; Salvati, A; Gosens, R; Melgert, BN; 2023. Inhalable Textile Microplastic Fibers Impair Airway Epithelial Differentiation. American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Stevenson, EM; Buckling, A; Cole, MJ; Lindeque, PK; Murray, AK; 2023. Selection for antimicrobial resistance in the plastisphere. Science of The Total Environment.

View more publications on our repository

                    Notable Achievements

                    Matthew’s research has been featured in various television, print and digital platforms, including Blue Planet II, InsideOut Southwest, BBC News, The One Show and Food Unwrapped. In 2018, Matthew and colleagues from Plymouth Marine Laboratory, the University of Plymouth and the University of Exeter were celebrated as the overall winners of the NERC impact awards, and winner of the NERC societal impact award, for uncovering the devastating impacts of microplastics in our oceans, raising global awareness of this pressing environmental issue and directly influencing policy around the world.