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Microplastic Pollution in Coastal Water Environments Due to a Maritime Disaster: X-Press Pearl Shipwreck Case Study
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This study investigated the phytotoxic effects of polyethylene microplastics on the growth of rice seedlings, finding dose-dependent reductions in shoot and root biomass and chlorophyll content. Oxidative stress was elevated in exposed seedlings, and the effects were more pronounced in waterlogged soil conditions typical of paddy rice cultivation, suggesting particular relevance for Asian rice agriculture.
Contamination by microplastics has become a burning environmental concern due to their rapid distribution in the oceans. Oceans receive a large number of microplastics annually via river waters, direct dumping, and transportation. The cargo ship of X-Press Pearl was sunken in the seabed at a depth of about 21 m which was anchored off Colombo Port around ~9.5 km offshore. The ship was transporting diverse goods of cargo, and eighty-one of those containers were carrying dangerous commodities including 78 tons of low-density polyethylene pellets. This disaster released these plastic pellets into the coastal water and water currents spread them around the coastal water of Sri Lanka. Hence, to test the availability of released plastics in coastal water around Negombo after one month of the disaster water samples were collected from six locations along the west coast of Sri Lanka using a specially designed microplastic sampler of Albatrosses. The microplastics in the water samples were analyzed using a stereomicroscope and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Low-density polyethylene pellets were found in all six locations which were released from the shipwreck, and the highest amount was found near the shipwreck location. Burned low-density polyethylene pellets were also found near the shipwreck area. It was very clear that accidental spills (such as X-press pearl) could increase very high degree microplastic concentrations compared to the background.
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Plastics, Nurdles, and Pyrogenic Microplastics in the Coastal Marine Environment
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Researchers examined plastic nurdle pollution and pyrogenic microplastics in coastal marine environments, with a focus on the MV X-Press Pearl cargo ship fire in Sri Lanka — the largest plastic-based maritime disaster from a single vessel in history, involving nearly 12,000 metric tonnes of plastic materials. The study documented the types and distribution of floating debris, nurdles, and fire-altered pyrogenic microplastics generated by the shipwreck along Sri Lankan coastlines.
Cross-Shore Microplastic Accumulation on Sri Lanka’s West Coast One Year After the Catastrophic X-Press Pearl Pollution Event
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Researchers conducted a detailed survey of microplastic pellet contamination along Sri Lanka's west coast one year after the catastrophic X-Press Pearl container ship disaster, which released an estimated 50 billion plastic pellets. They found that pellets were still widely present in beach sediments, with some locations showing very high densities. The study demonstrates that a single marine pollution event can result in persistent, long-term microplastic contamination of coastal environments.
Maritime pollution in the Indian Ocean after the MV X-Press Pearl accident
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Researchers monitored maritime pollution along the west coast of Sri Lanka following the MV X-Press Pearl container ship disaster. They found widespread contamination of beaches with low-density polyethylene plastic nurdles, with chemical analysis revealing that the pellets begin altering their composition at temperatures as low as 60 degrees Celsius. The study documents significant microplastic generation from the degrading nurdles under UV irradiation and abrasion, along with heavy metal contamination including arsenic and cadmium.
Contamination and distribution of buried microplastics in Sarakkuwa beach ensuing the MV X-Press Pearl maritime disaster in Sri Lankan sea
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Researchers studied microplastic contamination at Sarakkuwa beach in Sri Lanka following the MV X-Press Pearl shipping disaster of May 2021, finding that 2-5 mm partially pyrolyzed LDPE fragments and plastic nurdles had penetrated up to 2 m into beach sediments. The contamination profile differed markedly from baseline samples collected before the disaster, showing persistent deep burial of spilled plastic pellets.
Maritime disasters and pollution: X-Press Pearl maritime debacle.
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This paper reviews the marine pollution consequences of the X-Press Pearl shipping disaster, which released thousands of tons of plastic pellets and chemicals into Sri Lankan waters in 2021. The incident highlights how maritime accidents can cause sudden, large-scale microplastic contamination events and underscores the need for better prevention, response, and international coordination.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.