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Microplastic ingestion by the sandfish Holothuria scabra in Lampung and Sumbawa, Indonesia
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Researchers found microplastics in 89% of sandfish sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) sampled from Indonesian coastal sites, with fiber shapes and transparent particles predominating, indicating these commercially important invertebrates readily ingest environmental microplastics.
This study investigated the abundances and characteristics of microplastics in sediments and sandfish (Holothuria scabra) in Lampung and Sumbawa, Indonesia. Microplastics were found in 89.02% of all sandfish samples, with an average abundance of 2.01 ± 1.59 particles individual. The abundance of microplastics was 58.42 ± 24.33 particles kg in surface sediments. Furthermore, there was a positive relationship between the abundance of microplastics in sandfish and sediments. Fragments and fibers with small-sized microplastics (300-1000 μm) were the most abundant types found in sandfish and sediments. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis showed that polyethylene (30.08%), polypropylene (30.08%), polyurethane (12.20%), and polyethylene terephthalate (8.94%) were the most abundant polymers in the samples. Our results strongly indicate that microplastics in Lampung and Sumbawa originate from the fragmentation of large plastics. Better solid waste management in Indonesia is needed to reduce plastic waste leakage, which could become microplastics.
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Spatial distribution of microplastics ingested by Holothuria atra (Echinodermata: Holothuroidea) in the tourism and marine mariculture development zone, Karimunjawa, Indonesia
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Researchers examined microplastics ingested by sea cucumbers (Holothuria atra) in Karimunjawa, Indonesia, finding an average of 14,166 particles per individual, predominantly fibers, with polymer types including polyamide, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene linked to local hydrodynamic patterns.
Microplastics abundance in sea cucumber Holothuria scabra from Pulau Malawali, Sabah, Malaysia
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Researchers measured microplastic abundance in sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) from Pulau Malawali in Sabah, Malaysia, finding microplastic particles in all examined specimens. Fibres were the dominant particle type, and concentrations were similar to those reported for sea cucumbers in other tropical regions, confirming widespread microplastic exposure in this commercially important species.
Types and Abundance of Microplastics in the Digestive Tract of Cucumbers in Banyak Island, Aceh Singkil
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Researchers examined the digestive tracts of sea cucumbers from Banyak Island, Indonesia, identifying microplastic types and quantities ingested by these organisms in a coastal area affected by community plastic waste.
Microplastic ingestion in the black sea cucumber Holothuria leucospilota (Brandt, 1835) collected from Rambut Island, Seribu Islands, Jakarta, Indonesia
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Scientists found microplastics inside sea cucumbers collected from Indonesian coastal waters near Jakarta, with plastic particles concentrated in the intestines. Sea cucumbers are sediment-feeding bottom dwellers, making them useful indicators of microplastic contamination on the seafloor.
Evaluation of Microplastics Ingested by Sea Cucumber Holothuria Scabra from Pulau Jambongan, Sabah
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Researchers found 7,403 microplastic particles in the digestive tracts of 30 sea cucumbers (Holothuria scabra) collected from a Malaysian island, with 99% being fibers and the dominant polymer being polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The high contamination level indicates significant marine pollution in the region and shows that bottom-dwelling sea cucumbers — which process large volumes of sediment — are especially exposed to microplastic accumulation. This is relevant to seafood safety since sea cucumbers are commercially harvested for human consumption.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.