Quantitative Assessment of Metal and Microplastics Contamination in KwaZulu-Natal Coast, South Africa: A General Review

Summary

A comprehensive review of 348 sediment samples across nine coastal zones of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, quantified the co-occurrence and distribution of trace metals and microplastics along a major African coastline. The findings reveal that coastal sediments serve as combined reservoirs for both chemical and plastic pollution, raising concerns about compounded toxicity exposure for marine organisms and communities that rely on these coastal resources.