Article
?
AI-assigned paper type based on the abstract. Classification may not be perfect — flag errors using the feedback button.
Tier 2
?
Original research — experimental, observational, or case-control study. Direct primary evidence.
Sign in to save
Evaluation of Microplastics Ingested by Sea Cucumber Holothuria Scabra from Pulau Jambongan, Sabah
Bulletin of Environmental Contamination and Toxicology2024
3 citations
?
Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count.
Score: 40
?
0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Vijay Kumar Subbiah,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Vijay Kumar Subbiah,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Nur Nashrah Abd Rahman,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Amir Syazwan Shawel,
Amir Syazwan Shawel,
Amir Syazwan Shawel,
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Amir Syazwan Shawel,
Vijay Kumar Subbiah,
Amir Syazwan Shawel,
Audrey Daning Tuzan,
Vijay Kumar Subbiah,
Muhammad Nor Afdall Nazahuddin,
Nurzafirah Mazlan,
Audrey Daning Tuzan,
Vijay Kumar Subbiah,
Sitti Raehanah Muhamad Shaleh,
Amir Syazwan Shawel,
Norfazreena Mohd Faudzi,
Rossita Shapawi,
Muhammad Dawood Shah,
Tze Young Thung
Summary
Researchers found 7,403 microplastic particles in the digestive tracts of 30 sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) collected from a Malaysian island, with 99% being fibers and the dominant polymer being polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The high contamination level indicates significant marine pollution in the region and shows that bottom-dwelling sea cucumbers — which process large volumes of sediment — are especially exposed to microplastic accumulation. This is relevant to seafood safety since sea cucumbers are commercially harvested for human consumption.
Microplastics (MPs) are tiny plastic pieces having a diameter of less than 5 mm. They can arise from larger plastic debris that degrades over time, synthetic fibres from clothing, microbeads in personal care items and even larger plastic debris. Sea cucumbers are marine creatures vital to the ocean's ecosystem as they assist in maintaining a clean seabed and recycle nutrients. The aim of this research was to characterize the types of MPs isolated from the sea cucumber Holothuria scabra from Pulau Jambongan, Sabah. A total of 30 H. scabra were collected. Their gastrointestinal tracts were removed and digested using NaOH. The digestates were filtrated several times to extract the MPs. MPs were observed under microscope and categorized into shapes and colours. To determine the functional group of polymers, further analysis using Fourier Transform-Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) was performed. The samples contained a total of 7403 MPs. Majority of MPs were black colored (72.25%) and in the form of fibres (99.05%). Two types of polymers were detected: polycarbonate (PC) found in 4% of the population and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) present in 96%. In conclusion, the presence of MPs in the gastrointestinal tract of H. scabra suggests that the animals and their habitat have been contaminated. Further study is required to comprehend the effects of MPs on sea cucumbers and other marine organisms as well as to develop prevention strategies.