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Evaluation of microplastics isolated from sea cucumber Acaudina molpadioides in Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia

Heliyon 2023 24 citations ? Citation count from OpenAlex, updated daily. May differ slightly from the publisher's own count. Score: 55 ? 0–100 AI score estimating relevance to the microplastics field. Papers below 30 are filtered from public browse.
Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Meng Chuan Ong Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Meng Chuan Ong Nurzafirah Mazlan, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Nurzafirah Mazlan, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Meng Chuan Ong Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Miftahul Jannah Muhammad Husin, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, Jemimah Shalom, S. N. Saud, Jemimah Shalom, S. N. Saud, Jemimah Shalom, S. N. Saud, S. N. Saud, S. N. Saud, Meng Chuan Ong Muhamad Shirwan Abdullah Sani, Meng Chuan Ong Sarah Syazwani Shukhairi, Meng Chuan Ong S. N. Saud, Muhamad Shirwan Abdullah Sani, Meng Chuan Ong Muhamad Shirwan Abdullah Sani, Muhamad Shirwan Abdullah Sani, Muhamad Shirwan Abdullah Sani, Muhamad Shirwan Abdullah Sani, Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong Nurzafirah Mazlan, Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong S. N. Saud, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Meng Chuan Ong Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Naveen Kumar Naidu Chandra Mohan, Nor Ashikin Sopian, S. N. Saud, Meng Chuan Ong Meng Chuan Ong

Summary

Researchers examined sea cucumbers from Langkawi, Malaysia and found over 1,600 microplastic particles in their digestive tracts, with fibers making up more than 99% of the contamination. The most common polymer types identified were polyethylene and polymethyl methacrylate, with the majority of particles falling in the smallest size ranges. The findings raise concerns about potential human exposure to microplastics through seafood consumption.

Polymers
Body Systems

Plastic pollution is an emerging environmental concern in recent years due to continuous mass production and its slow degradation. Microplastics measuring between 5 mm and 1 μm are being ingested by marine animals and eventually by human consumption in form of seafood. The aim of this research was to evaluate microplastics isolated from sea cucumber in Pulau Langkawi. A total of 20 animals were collected and their gastrointestinal tract were digested using NaOH. Microplastics were isolated, filtered and identified through microscopic examination based on the colour, shape and size. The chemical composition of microplastics were further analyzed by FTIR to identify the functional group of polymers. A total of 1652 microplastics were found in Fibres (99.4%) and black color (54.4%) were the majority of microplastics observed in terms of shapes and colors. The size range within 0.5-1 μm and 1-2 μm were the highest abundance observed. There were two identified polymer types of microplastics obtained through FTIR which were polyethylene (PE) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). In conclusion, microplastics were isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of indicating that the animals were contaminated. Further research can be done on the toxicity effects of these microplastics towards human upon consumption of these animals as seafood.

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