Microplastics and heavy metals in the coastal areas: Marine health assessment and ecosystem services values

Growing Menace of Microplastics in and Around the Coastal Ecosystem

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Coastal ecosystems face escalating microplastic threats as particles accumulate in seawater, sediments, and the tissues of fish, dolphins, crabs, plankton, and benthic organisms, degrading water quality and disrupting food webs. The growing menace to coastal biodiversity underscores the urgency of reducing plastic inputs before irreversible harm is done to fisheries and ecosystems that billions of people depend on for food and livelihoods.

Multiple negative impacts of marine plastic pollution on tropical coastal ecosystem services, and human health and well-being

Microplastics in the Marine Ecosystems: Identification and Impacts

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Tiny plastic particles called microplastics, broken-down bits of everyday plastic waste, are showing up along India's coastlines, and this review paper rounds up what scientists have found so far. While research on their health effects is still catching up, these particles are known to persist in the environment and can enter the food chain through seafood, raising concerns about long-term exposure for coastal communities. The authors point out that India still needs a lot more research to fully understand how serious this problem is and what it means for people's health.

Microplastics in the Marine Environment: Sources, Distribution, Biological Effects and Socio-Economic Impacts

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Researchers reviewed the sources, distribution, biological effects, and socioeconomic impacts of microplastic pollution in marine environments, finding that rivers and estuaries are the primary land-to-ocean transport pathways. The review emphasizes that microplastics transfer adsorbed pollutants and additives through food webs to top predators, and that reducing plastic production and improving waste management are essential long-term solutions.

Microplastics and metal contamination in coastal waters off Kochi and associated risks

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Microplastic and metal contamination were documented together in water, sediment, and fish tissue from the Kochi coastal ecosystem, with fiber-dominated water column contamination and species-specific accumulation patterns showing that feeding habitat drives pollutant uptake. The co-occurrence and potential biomagnification of microplastics alongside heavy metals in seafood poses compounded health risks for coastal populations who rely on local fish for nutrition.