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Assessment of Microplastic Pollution and Ecological Implications in the Tropical Marine Parks of Pulau Payar and Pulau Songsong, Malaysia
Summary
Scientists found tiny plastic bits (microplastics) floating in the water at two popular Malaysian marine parks, though the amounts were low and rated as posing only minor environmental risk right now. These plastics, mostly from fabric fibers and broken-down debris, matter because they can work their way up the food chain into the seafood we eat, and this study helps establish a baseline for tracking whether pollution gets worse over time in these protected tourist destinations.
Microplastics are persistent pollutants of growing environmental concern, originating from fragmentation of larger plastic debris and direct releases of microbeads and synthetic fibres. This investigation examined microplastics contamination in the marine ecosystems of Pulau Payar and Pulau Songsong, Malaysia. Surface water samples were collected using manta trawls at eight stations over four sampling periods in 2022. Microplastics were extracted, characterised, and analysed using micro Fourier-transform infra-red (μ-FTIR) spectroscopy. Microplastics were detected across all sampling sites with a mean concentration of 0.66 ± 0.82 particles m−3. Fragments and fibres constituted the predominant morphologies. Although statistical analysis revealed no significant difference, Pulau Songsong exhibited a numerically higher mean concentration (0.74 ± 1.03 particles m−3) compared to Pulau Payar (0.58 ± 0.56 particles m−3), potentially attributed to hydrodynamic variations between the sites. Among the 22 polymer types identified, rayon, polystyrene (PE), and melamine-formaldehyde (MF) were most prevalent. Temporal variations showed decreasing MP concentrations from dry to rainy seasons, while spatial distribution correlated with water quality parameters including temperature, conductivity, and salinity. Pollution load index and ecological risk index calculations indicated low contamination levels and minor ecological risks at both study sites. This research provides foundational data on microplastics pollution in Malaysian marine parks and recreational areas, emphasising the necessity for ongoing monitoring and management strategies to preserve these valuable ecosystems.