We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Microplastic and heavy metal distributions in an Indian coral reef ecosystem
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics and heavy metals were found together in coral reef waters and sediments in the Gulf of Mannar, India, with polyethylene the most common polymer and metals including zinc, mercury, and lead associated with plastic surfaces. The study provides baseline contamination data for an ecologically important reef system facing pressure from both microplastics and metal pollution.
The current study focuses on the occurrence and characteristics of microplastics (MPs) and spatial distribution and pollution status of heavy metals in the water and sediments of the coral reef ecosystems associated with the Tuticorin and Vembar groups of islands in the Gulf of Mannar, southeast India. Mean abundance of MPs varies from 60 ± 54 to 126.6 ± 97 items/L in water and from 50 ± 29 to 103.8 ± 87 items/kg in sediment. Water and sediment samples from the Tuticorin islands contain higher MP concentrations than the Vembar islands. The highest MP were observed in the mainland samples, while MP distributions in the shoreward direction i.e. towards the islands closely reflect those of the mainland (p < 0.05). Polyethylene is the most common polymer, with fibers (1-3 mm) being the most abundant form in water and fragments (3-5 mm) being the most abundant in sediment. Pollution indices such as enrichment and contamination factors indicate moderate contamination of sediments by Zn, Hg, Cd, Pb and Ni. Heavy metal associated with MPs are greater than those in sediments, and this indicates that MP may be a source of metal pollution or that metals from the sediment preferentially partition to MPs. SEM analysis highlights the presence of cracks, protrusions and depositions on the surface of many MPs, indicating partial degradation. EDAX frequently showed the presence of Zn, Cd, Pb, Ni and Fe associated with MP surfaces. This study offers an insight into the level of MPs and associated elements that filter feeding corals in the region are exposed to current.
More Papers Like This
Microplastic in the coral reef environments of the Gulf of Mannar, India - Characteristics, distributions, sources and ecological risks
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastic surveys in the coral reef environments of the Gulf of Mannar, India found that polyethylene and polypropylene were the dominant polymers, with land-based sources being the main contributor and pollution load indices indicating moderate to high ecological risk.
Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the coral reef, sea grass and near shore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers compared microplastic occurrence and characteristics alongside heavy metal contaminants in water and sediment across coral reef, seagrass, and nearshore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India, finding mean concentrations ranging from 24 to 96 items/L and identifying habitat-specific differences in contamination profiles.
Microplastics and trace metals in fish species of the Gulf of Mannar (Indian Ocean) and evaluation of human health
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers examined microplastics and trace metals in five commercially important fish species from the Gulf of Mannar in the Indian Ocean. They found microplastics in both muscle and intestinal tissues, predominantly polyethylene and polypropylene particles, and estimated that human consumers could ingest 121 to 456 microplastic items per person per year from eating these fish.
Characterization of plastic debris and association of metals with microplastics in coastline sediment along the Persian Gulf
AI summary Read the abstract
Microplastics and sediment samples from Persian Gulf coastlines were found to contain elevated concentrations of heavy metals including lead, cadmium, and mercury, with metals associated with both the plastic surfaces and the surrounding sediment. The study demonstrates that microplastics in this industrialized coastal region accumulate hazardous metals that can be transferred to marine organisms.
Distribution and characterization of microplastic from reef associated surface sediments of Vembar group of Islands, Gulf of Mannar, India
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers collected reef sediment samples from three islands in the Vembar group in the Gulf of Mannar and found microplastic contamination dominated by polypropylene (most abundant), nylon (32.3%), polyethylene (19.6%), and polystyrene (5.7%), with irregular and fiber shapes predominating and Upputhanni Island showing the highest particle count at 154 particles.
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.