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Low incidence of microplastics in coral reefs of Kāneʻohe Bay, Hawaiʻi, USA
Summary
This study measured microplastic and other micro-debris concentrations in sediment, seawater, sea cucumbers, and coral from fringing and patch reefs in Kane'ohe Bay, Hawaii. Microplastic pollution was lower than in most tropical coral reefs studied to date, though detectable concentrations were found across all sampled matrices, suggesting partial protection from open-ocean inputs by the bay's geography.
This study investigated microplastic and other micro-debris pollution in sediment, seawater, sea cucumbers, and corals from fringing and patch reefs in Kāne'ohe Bay, O'ahu, Hawai'i, USA. Microplastic pollution in Kāne'ohe Bay Bay was low compared to other tropical coral reefs. Microplastics were detected in sediments (29 %), sea cucumbers (9 %), and coral (0-2 %) samples but were not quantifiable. Seawater had quantifiable microplastic (< 0.5 mm) and macroplastic (> 0.5 mm) pollution, with mean concentrations ranging from 0.0061 to 0.081 particles m. Most particles detected in seawater samples were larger, floating plastic debris consisting mostly of polyethylene, polypropylene fragments, and fibers. Across the other matrices, the most detected particles were polyester, polypropylene, and cotton fibers. These results provide baseline data for this important coral reef ecosystem, and further monitoring is recommended to understand the seasonal and long-term trends in microplastic pollution and its potential future impacts.