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Spatial variability of phthalates contamination in the reef-building corals Porites lutea, Pocillopora verrucosa and Pavona varians
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More than 95% of reef-building corals sampled across several species and reef sites in French Polynesia contained phthalate plasticizers, with concentrations up to 172 nanograms per gram, suggesting widespread and ubiquitous contamination. The study establishes phthalates as a novel, previously unrecognized form of contamination in coral reef ecosystems.
Microplastic pollution represents a serious hazard for the marine environment, including coral reefs. Scleractinian corals can easily mistake microplastics with their natural preys, and ingest them and all the annexed plasticizer additives. Here we selectively searched on field for five phthalates esters (PAEs) namely dibutyl-phthalate (DBP), benzylbutyl-phthalate (BBzP), diethyl-phthalate (DEP), Bis(2-ethylhexyl)-phthalate (DEHP), and dimethyl-phthalate (DMP) in the coral species Pocillopora verrucosa, Porites lutea and Pavona varians. Our data reveal that >95% of corals sampled were contaminated, with a maximum of 172.4 ng/g, a value 7 time-fold higher than those found in a previous study. The Σ PAEs showed an average of about 30 ng/g per coral, but no differences in PAEs contamination was detected between species, depth or reef exposure. Despite their effects on coral physiology are not yet known, PAEs should be now considered as a novel, and ubiquitous, form of contamination in corals.
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Microplastics as a threat to coral reef environments: Detection of phthalate esters in neuston and scleractinian corals from the Faafu Atoll, Maldives
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Researchers investigated microplastic contamination and associated phthalate esters in surface water and scleractinian corals from the Faafu Atoll in the Maldives, finding the first field-based evidence of a potential link between seawater microplastic levels and phthalic acid ester contamination in reef-building corals.
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This study assessed whether phthalate plasticizers could serve as tracers for microplastic pollution in Mediterranean coastal waters, examining their occurrence, distribution, and interactions with the marine environment in one of the world's plastic pollution hotspots.
Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia
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This study found plastic pollution at every sampled site on the fringing coral reef of Mo'orea in French Polynesia, with microplastics distributed throughout the reef and lagoon sediments. The research documents plastic contamination of a remote Pacific reef ecosystem and discusses possible effects on reef-building corals and associated species.
Distribution and biological implications of plastic pollution on the fringing reef of Mo’orea, French Polynesia
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This study quantified both macro- and microplastic pollution on the coral reef of Mo'orea in French Polynesia, finding plastic at every sampled beach and in reef sediments. The research demonstrates that even remote Pacific island coral reefs receive significant plastic contamination from oceanic gyres and local sources.
Microplastics in coral from three Mascarene Islands, Western Indian Ocean
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Researchers compared microplastic concentrations, morphotypes, sizes, colors, and polymer compositions across six coral genera from three remote Mascarene Islands in the western Indian Ocean over a 1200 km transect. Microplastics were detected in all coral genera across all islands, with polymer types and concentrations reflecting both local and long-range ocean transport of plastic debris.
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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.