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Microplastics in marine invertebrates from the Red Sea Coast of Egypt: Abundance, composition, and risks
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This is the first study to document microplastics in marine invertebrates along Egypt's Red Sea coast, examining 11 species of clams, snails, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. Every animal sampled contained microplastics, with filter-feeding bivalves showing the highest concentrations per gram of tissue. The plastics identified were linked to tourism-related sources, highlighting how coastal recreation contributes to wildlife contamination.
This study marked the first exploration of microplastics in marine invertebrates in the Red Sea Coast of Egypt. 110 individuals from 11 different species, including Bivalvia, Gastropoda, Echinoidea, and Holothuroidrea, were collected near a popular tourist destination. The average concentrations of microplastics varied among species, ranging from 8.2 to 136.5 items per individual or 0.2 to 18.1 items per gram of tissue wet weight, with 100 % occurrence. Bivalves had higher concentrations per gram of tissue compared to sediment dwellers and grazers, with Brachidontes pharaonis showing the highest levels. Actinopyga crassa, a sea cucumber, displayed the highest abundance per individual due to its large size and behavior. The identified plastic polymers suggested sources associated with tourism and maritime activities. The estimated human exposure to microplastics through bivalve consumption was minimal. Further research is needed to examine microplastics contamination in the Red Sea and its potential impacts on ecosystems and human well-being.
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Researchers tested mussels, shrimp, and crabs from seafood markets along Egypt's Red Sea and Mediterranean coasts and found microplastics in all samples. Amounts varied by species and location, with the highest levels in Suez, and common plastics included polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polyacrylonitrile.
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Researchers review the growing body of evidence on microplastic pollution in the Red Sea, where studies conducted over the past five years reveal significant contamination in the water, sediments, and marine life. This matters because the Red Sea supports major fisheries and tourism, and microplastics that accumulate in seafood can ultimately reach humans who eat it.
Quantifying microplastics pollution in the Red Sea and Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba: Insights from chemical analysis and pollution load assessment
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This first comprehensive survey of microplastic pollution along Egyptian Red Sea shores found mostly low to medium levels of plastic contamination, with a marine protected area (Ras Mohamed) showing surprisingly high vulnerability. All particles were secondary fragments of weathered plastic, primarily polyethylene and polypropylene, linked mainly to maritime cargo and recreational boat traffic rather than land-based waste. The findings fill a significant geographic gap in global microplastic monitoring and highlight tourism and shipping as key management targets in this ecologically sensitive and endemic-rich region.
Microplastic distribution, abundance, and composition in the sediments, water, and fishes of the Red and Mediterranean seas, Egypt
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Microplastics were found in surface water, sediment, and fish tissues across Red Sea and Mediterranean sites in Egypt, with the highest concentrations near ports and river mouths, and polyethylene and polypropylene dominating the polymer composition in both water bodies.
Assessment of Microplastics Pollution in Marine Water Along Gulf of Suez, Egypt
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Researchers assessed microplastic pollution at nine beach locations along the Gulf of Suez, Egypt, identifying 1,982 microplastic debris particles in water samples via microscopy and characterizing various morphologies, providing baseline data on spatial fluctuations of microplastic contamination in this Red Sea 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.