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Progress in Research on Microplastic Prevalence in Tropical Coastal Environments: A Case Study of the Johor and Singapore Straits
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This systematic review examines microplastic levels in the tropical waters around Singapore and Malaysia. It finds that fibers and fragments from household and industrial sources are the most common types, and highlights that microplastic pollution in tropical coastal areas may pose risks to marine life and the seafood supply chain.
Microplastics are contaminants in marine ecosystems, posing great threats to biota and human health. In this work, we provide an overview of the progress made in understanding microplastic prevalence in tropical coastal environments, focusing on the Johor and the Singapore Straits as a case study. We examine the sources, distribution, transport, and ecological impact of microplastic pollution in this region through a systematic review. All papers relating to marine microplastics in Singapore’s sand and benthic sediments, seawater, and marine biota were used for analysis, from 2004 to 2023. In addition, we discuss the influence of envi-ronmental factors such as coastal morphology and anthropogenic activities on patterns of microplastic accumulation. We emphasize that microplastic pollution is more prevalent along the eutrophic Johor Strait compared to the Singapore Strait due to hydrological conditions. Rainfall is also a key factor that influences mi-croplastic abundance during the monsoon seasons. Furthermore, the bacterial and plankton assemblages of organisms on microplastic surfaces are diverse, with eutrophic waters enhancing the diversity of organisms on microplastic surfaces. Novel harmful cyanobacteria and bloom species of phytoplankton were also found on microplastic surfaces. By synthesizing existing research findings and highlighting regional characteristics, this paper contributes to ongoing efforts to mitigate microplastic pollution in tropical regions.
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Microplastics in Malaysia's Aquatic Environment: Current Overview and Future Perspectives
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This review summarizes microplastic research across Malaysia's rivers, coastal waters, seafood, and sediments, finding widespread contamination in all aquatic environments studied. Fibers and fragments from everyday plastic products were the most common types found. The authors highlight that Malaysians face significant microplastic exposure through seafood consumption and call for better pollution monitoring and waste management policies.
Assessment of Microplastic Contamination in Coastal Waters of Southeast Asia: Implications for Marine Ecosystems and Human Health
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This review assessed microplastic contamination in coastal waters across Southeast Asia, synthesizing monitoring data to identify pollution hot spots, dominant polymer types, and the implications for regional marine ecosystem health.
Microplastic Pollution in Marine Waters: a Malaysian Perspective
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This review summarized the current state of microplastic pollution research in Malaysian marine ecosystems, covering occurrence in ocean, coastal, and estuarine environments. Fibers, fragments, and films were found across all environments studied. The review identifies research gaps and calls for standardized monitoring protocols to support policy development in Malaysia.
Spatiotemporal characterisation of microplastics in the coastal regions of Singapore
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Researchers characterized the spatiotemporal distribution of microplastics along Singapore's coastal waters, finding fragments as the dominant type at 70%, with higher concentrations at the surface and polymer compositions including polyethylene and polypropylene.
Microplasticcontaminationincommercial marine fish: A case study in Johor, Malaysia
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Researchers examined four species of commercially important marine fish from waters around Johor, Malaysia, and found microplastics present in the flesh of all species sampled. Fibers and fragments were the most common particle types, with polypropylene and polyethylene being the dominant polymers identified. The findings raise concerns about human dietary exposure to microplastics through commonly consumed fish in the region.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.