Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in Coral Reefs at Penimbangan Waters

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics in coral reef tissues and sediments at Penimbangan Beach, finding MPs in all 12 coral samples analyzed. Fiber and fragment types dominated, with polymers matching common fishing and packaging materials, reflecting local pollution inputs to the reef ecosystem.

2025 Advances in Tropical Biodiversity and Environmental Sciences
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic pollution in corals, seawater, and marine sediments in the Gulf of Thailand

Researchers assessed microplastic occurrence, abundance, and characteristics in coral, seawater, and sediment samples from two reef sites in the Gulf of Thailand, detecting microplastics in all coral samples at concentrations ranging from 0.24 to 2.60 particles per gram and finding spatial variability across reef species and sites.

2025 Frontiers in Marine Science
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in tropical coral reef ecosystems from the coastal South China Sea and their impacts on corals in situ

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.

2024 Journal of Hazardous Materials 15 citations
Article Tier 2

Species-specific microplastic enrichment characteristics of scleractinian corals from reef environment: Insights from an in-situ study at the Xisha Islands

Microplastics were detected in seawater, sediment, and three scleractinian coral species at five atolls in the Xisha Islands, with average seawater concentrations of 9.5 particles per liter and species-specific differences in microplastic enrichment patterns observed.

2022 The Science of The Total Environment 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance of microplastics and its ecological risk assessment in coral reef regions of Peninsular Malaysia

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface waters around coral reef regions of Peninsular Malaysia. They detected microplastics at all sampling sites, with the Perhentian Islands showing significantly higher levels than Tioman Island, likely due to oceanographic differences. Small fragments and fibers of polyethylene and polypropylene were the most common types found, providing baseline data on microplastic pollution in these sensitive reef ecosystems.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 13 citations
Article Tier 2

Abundance and Characteristics of Microplastics in Seawater and Corals From Reef Region of Sanya Bay, China

Researchers quantified microplastic abundance in seawater and coral samples from Sanya Bay, China, finding 15-22 items per liter in seawater and up to 3.6 items per coral polyp, with fibers and fragments as the predominant particle types in reef ecosystems.

2021 Frontiers in Marine Science 37 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in coral from three Mascarene Islands, Western Indian Ocean

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.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 4 citations
Article Tier 2

Contamination of microplastics in tropical coral reef ecosystems of Sri Lanka

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination across ten coral reef ecosystems in Sri Lanka, finding microplastics in corals, water, and sediments with fibers and fragments being the dominant types, representing a previously unquantified threat to tropical reef systems.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 34 citations
Article Tier 2

Differential enrichment and physiological impacts of ingested microplastics in scleractinian corals in situ

Researchers found microplastics in scleractinian corals along the east coast of Hainan Island in the South China Sea, with average concentrations of 4.97 particles per square centimetre in coral tissue, alongside contamination in Tridacnidae, Trochidae, and fish intestines. The characteristics of microplastics in organisms differed from those in surrounding seawater and sediment, indicating selective enrichment during ingestion.

2020 Journal of Hazardous Materials 108 citations
Article Tier 2

Reef‐building corals act as long‐term sink for microplastic

Coral reef structures were shown to act as long-term sinks for microplastics, with microplastics accumulating in reef framework interstices and sediments at higher concentrations than surrounding seawater, potentially contributing to the resolution of the missing plastic problem in ocean budgets.

2021 Global Change Biology 75 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in the Coral Reef Systems from Xisha Islands of South China Sea

Researchers surveyed microplastic distribution in seawater, fish, and corals across three atolls in the Xisha Islands of the South China Sea. They found microplastics present in all sample types, with lagoons showing the highest water concentrations and fibrous rayon and polyethylene being the dominant polymer types. The findings indicate that even relatively remote coral reef systems are contaminated with microplastics, which may threaten reef health.

2019 Environmental Science & Technology 290 citations
Article Tier 2

Characteristic and histological evidence of microplastic in scleractinian corals of Java Sea

Microplastics were detected in seawater, sediments, and scleractinian coral colonies in the Java Sea, with histological evidence confirming MP uptake by coral tissue, raising concerns about microplastic impacts on reef health in this heavily impacted region.

2023 The Egyptian Journal of Aquatic Research 5 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and characteristics of microplastics in the coral reef, sea grass and near shore habitats of Rameswaram Island, India

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.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 71 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics abundance along selected beaches in Kelantan, Malaysia / Muhammad Zakwan Anas Abd Wahid ... [et al.]

Researchers sampled microplastics from ten beach locations across Kelantan, Malaysia using FTIR spectroscopy and geospatial analysis to characterize spatial distribution. Microplastics were widespread across all sites, with natural coastal dynamics and human activities identified as key drivers of their abundance and distribution along the Malaysian coastline.

2025 UiTM Institutional Repositories (Universiti Teknologi MARA)
Article Tier 2

Deposition characteristics of microplastics in coral reef fish with different feeding habits from the Xisha Islands Waters, South China Sea

Researchers examined microplastic contamination in the gills and gastrointestinal tracts of 96 coral reef fish from the South China Sea, finding that nearly 98% of sampled fish contained microplastics. Fibers were the most common shape, with most particles smaller than 1 mm, and the predominant polymers were PET, PE, and PP. The study found that herbivorous fish had higher microplastic content than omnivorous or carnivorous species, likely because they feed primarily on microplastic-polluted coral reefs.

2025 Journal of Environmental Management 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Saccostrea cucullata: a baseline study along the rocky shore in southwest area of Peninsular Malaysia off Strait of Malacca

Rock oysters (Saccostrea cucullata) from eight rocky shores along the Strait of Malacca, Peninsular Malaysia were analyzed for microplastic contamination, finding that 58.5% of detected particles were identified as synthetic polymers by ATR-FTIR. The study established a baseline for microplastic contamination in this sessile filter feeder along a heavily trafficked shipping route.

2024 International Journal of Environment and Pollution
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in Zhubi Reef from South China Sea

Microplastic abundance and distribution were measured at Zhubi Reef in the South China Sea, finding concentrations of 1,400–8,100 items/m² of surface water—much higher than other ocean areas—with fibers, pellets, polypropylene, and polyamide as dominant types. The study documents elevated microplastic contamination at a South China Sea reef ecosystem under increasing human pressure.

2019 Environmental Pollution 99 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and risk assessment around coral reefs of the Eastern Part, Thailand

This study assessed microplastic pollution and ecological risk in sediments and water around coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific, finding microplastic concentrations elevated near human activity and identifying polymer types associated with fishing gear and land-based plastic waste.

2025 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Occurrence and Composition of Microplastics in the Seabed Sediments of the Coral Communities in Proximity of a Metropolitan Area

Benthic sediment samples from four sites adjacent to coral communities in Hong Kong were analyzed for microplastics, finding concentrations of 169–221 items/kg with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments dominant. The study documents significant microplastic contamination in sediments surrounding coral communities in a heavily urbanized coastal city.

2018 International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 106 citations
Article Tier 2

The abundance of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems in the waters of Krueng Raya, Aceh Besar

Researchers measured microplastic abundance in sediment from coral reef ecosystems at three sites in Krueng Raya waters, Aceh Besar, Indonesia, and evaluated correlations between MP abundance and live coral cover. Microplastics were found at all three sites, with the study providing baseline data on MP contamination in Indonesian coral reef habitats.

2025 Springer Link (Chiba Institute of Technology)
Article Tier 2

Occurrence And Abundance Of Microplastics In Coral Reef Sediment: A Case Study In Sekotong, Lombok-Indonesia

Microplastics were found in coral reef sediments in Sekotong, Lombok, Indonesia, with possible contributions from ocean current transport through the Indonesian Throughflow. The findings highlight that microplastic contamination has reached Indonesia's coral reef ecosystems, which are among the most biodiverse on Earth.

2018 Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) 60 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics analysis in Malaysian marine waters: A field study of Kuala Nerus and Kuantan

Researchers conducted the first detection of microplastics in Malaysian marine waters at Kuala Nerus and Kuantan, identifying plastic types and concentrations in surface waters from two sites representing different levels of anthropogenic activity.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 156 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution around remote uninhabited coral reefs of Nansha Islands, South China Sea

Microplastics were detected in surface waters surrounding remote uninhabited coral reefs in the South China Sea's Nansha Islands, with polypropylene and polyethylene fibers from fishing gear likely the dominant source. Although concentrations were relatively low compared to coastal areas, the authors stress that even remote reef ecosystems are not protected from plastic contamination.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 125 citations
Article Tier 2

Impacts of microplastics on scleractinian corals nearshore Liuqiu Island southwestern Taiwan

Researchers found microplastics in three genera of wild corals near Liuqiu Island, Taiwan, with abundances up to 0.95 items per gram dominated by blue rayon fibers, and observed that low coral cover (12.5%) at the most tourism-impacted site corresponded with the highest microplastic concentrations in water, sediment, and coral tissue. Enrichment factors of 25-283 times above surrounding seawater indicate corals are significant accumulators of microplastics in reef environments.

2022 Environmental Pollution 36 citations