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Effective acid treatment and investigation of microplastics in two common hard corals from Pulau Redang Marine Park, Malaysia
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles in nearly two-thirds of coral samples from a protected marine park in Malaysia, with unhealthy corals containing three times more plastic pollution. This matters because corals are critical ocean ecosystems, and when they're contaminated with microplastics, it can harm marine life that eventually ends up in our food chain. The plastic pollution was worst near developed areas, showing how human activities directly impact ocean health and potentially our own food safety.
The emergence of microplastics (MPs) pollution in the ocean is a significant threat to coral reefs. This study assessed MPs in two common hard corals ( Acropora and Porites ) from Pulau Redang, a marine protected island located offshore in the southern South China Sea, Malaysia. Acid digestion method was preliminarily tested on the entire coral fragments to determine a suitable concentration preserving MPs. A total of 200 coral fragments were collected from five sites and categorized by health status. Samples were digested using a validated concentration (5% hydrochloric acid) and analyzed for MPs content. Results found MPs in 64% of the corals, with the abundance linked to proximity of development recorded the highest mean at Long Beach (1.31 ± 2.59 items/g), followed by Pasir Akar (0.85 ± 1.26 items/g), Kerengga Besar (0.72 ± 0.97 items/g), Chagar Hutang (0.54 ± 0.74 items/g) and Mak Simpan (0.47 ± 0.57 items/g). Although MP abundance showed no significant difference between coral genera, unhealthy Acropora had three times more MPs overgrown in coral fragments entangled with plastic debris. Characterization of MPs revealed dominant colours of black and transparent. Fibre was the dominant shape, and particle sizes were primarily distributed in two ranges: < 300 µm and 1000–5000 µm. Among polymers identified using µ-FTIR, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the main synthetic plastic found in corals. The findings provide a crucial baseline on MP contamination in coral reefs within Malaysia marine park, and highlight the concern over plastic pollution risk in ecologically valuable marine ecosystems. • Microplastics pollution evidenced in corals from Pulau Redang Marine Park Malaysia • Debris entangled corals have more microplastics overgrowth in the colonies • Polyethylene terephthalate is the main microplastics polluted the corals • 5% HCl acid digests coral skeleton with minimum impacts on microplastics
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Microplastics pollute nearly two-thirds of corals in Malaysia’s marine protected area, study finds
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A study of corals in Pulau Redang Marine Park, a protected area off Malaysia in the South China Sea, found microplastics, tiny plastic pieces 5 millimeters or smaller, embedded in coral skeletons. The research reported that nearly two-thirds of the corals examined contained these particles.
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Researchers studied microplastic contamination in coral reef ecosystems off southern China, finding plastic particles in seawater, sediment, corals, shellfish, and fish. Different coral species absorbed microplastics at different rates, with smaller particles penetrating deeper into coral tissue. Since coral reefs support fisheries and coastal communities, this contamination could affect both marine ecosystems and the seafood that people eat.
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Three coral species from Malaysian coastal waters contained microplastics identified by FTIR spectroscopy, with Acropora showing the highest abundance and concentrations varying between two sampling locations, confirming coral reef ecosystems as sinks for microplastic pollution.
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