Papers

61,005 results
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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

Water quality and floating microplastics pollution along Southern to Northwestern Coast, Sri Lanka

Researchers surveyed microplastic levels and water quality at 12 coastal sites along Sri Lanka's western and southern coast, finding microplastics present at all locations with fibers being the dominant form. The study also found correlations between microplastic abundance and certain water quality parameters, suggesting that areas with poorer water quality tended to have higher plastic loads. The research adds to growing evidence that South Asian coastal waters are significantly contaminated with microplastics, with potential implications for marine food webs and fishing communities.

2025 Sri Lanka Journal of Aquatic Sciences 1 citations
Article Tier 2

Evidence of microplastics pollution in coastal beaches and waters in southern Sri Lanka

Researchers found microplastic pollution along 91 km of coastline in southern Sri Lanka, with 60% of beach sand sites and 70% of surface water sites testing positive, characterizing the polymers, shapes, and colors present across the sampled coastal environments.

2018 Marine Pollution Bulletin 130 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of the Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastics were found in both beach sediments and coastal seawater along 42 kilometers of Sri Lanka's western coastline, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polystyrene being the most common types. The results document significant plastic contamination along the coast of a densely populated South Asian nation, raising concerns about exposure for coastal communities and marine life in the Indian Ocean region.

2024 Water 2 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

First detection of microplastics in reef-building corals from a Maldivian atoll

Researchers conducted the first survey of microplastic contamination in reef-building corals from a Maldivian atoll, examining 38 coral colonies across three species. They found that 58% of colonies contained microplastic particles in the 25-150 micrometer size range. The study provides initial evidence that even remote coral reef ecosystems in the Indian Ocean are affected by microplastic pollution, raising concerns about potential impacts on coral health.

2022 Marine Pollution Bulletin 43 citations
Article Tier 2

Sampling and Analysis of Microplastics in the Coastal Environments of Sri Lanka: Estuaries of Kelani River to Mahaoya

Microplastic abundance and types were quantified in beach sediments and seawater across nine sites along 42 km of Sri Lanka's western coast, documenting widespread contamination in estuarine and coastal environments.

2024 Preprints.org 4 citations
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

Microplastic pollution in Marine Protected Areas of Southern Sri Lanka

Microplastic contamination was documented in coastal and lagoon sediments and water within two Marine Protected Areas in southern Sri Lanka, indicating that even protected zones are not shielded from plastic pollution.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 88 citations
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

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

Plastics in surface water of southern coastal belt of Sri Lanka (Northern Indian Ocean): Distribution and characterization by FTIR

Researchers investigated plastic pollution in coastal surface waters across 12 regions in southern Sri Lanka, finding an overall mean microplastic density of 17.45 items per cubic metre with filaments as the most common morphology. FTIR characterisation confirmed the polymer types present, with blue-coloured particles being the most abundant across sampling locations.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 74 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

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
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 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

Seasonal distribution of microplastics in surface waters of the Northern Indian Ocean

Researchers documented seasonal distribution of microplastics in Northern Indian Ocean surface waters across three monsoon periods, finding polyethylene and polypropylene dominated at 83%, with fibers accounting for 86% of all particles.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 39 citations
Article Tier 2

Spatial distribution of microplastics around an inhabited coral island in the Maldives, Indian Ocean

Researchers investigated microplastic accumulation across fore reef, reef flat, and beach sediment environments surrounding a small inhabited coral island in the Maldives, finding 1,244 individual microplastic pieces across 22 sampling sites. The study reveals that even remote inhabited islands in the Indian Ocean show significant microplastic contamination, with spatial distribution patterns reflecting local hydrodynamics and human activities.

2020 The Science of The Total Environment 109 citations
Article Tier 2

Coral reef attributes associated with microplastic exposure

Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in ocean water and coral tissue samples from two coral species in the U.S. Virgin Islands and Florida, providing the first documentation of microplastics in corals from these locations. Most particles identified were cotton or polyester fibers. Surprisingly, higher microplastic levels in coral tissue were positively associated with coral density, rugosity, and percent coral cover, suggesting that microplastics may not have immediate adverse effects on reef health.

2024 Coral Reefs 2 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

Airborne Microplastics in Indoor and Outdoor Environments of a Developing Country in South Asia: Abundance, Distribution, Morphology, and Possible Sources

Researchers measured airborne microplastics in indoor and outdoor environments across Sri Lanka, one of the first studies of its kind in a lower-middle-income country. They found that indoor microplastic concentrations were significantly higher than outdoor levels, with fibers being the most common particle type. The study estimates that people in these environments inhale thousands of microplastic particles daily, raising concerns about respiratory health impacts.

2022 Environmental Science & Technology 107 citations
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

Occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water of Songkhla Lagoon

Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in the surface waters of Songkhla Lagoon in Thailand and found microplastics at all sampling sites. Small fibers under 500 micrometers were the most abundant type, with rayon and polyester being the dominant polymer materials. The findings indicate that this important coastal lagoon system is widely affected by microplastic pollution from surrounding urban and industrial sources.

2024 PeerJ 10 citations
Article Tier 2

Responses of reef building corals to microplastic exposure

Researchers exposed six species of small-polyp stony corals to polyethylene microplastics to characterize their responses and potential health effects. They found that corals interacted with the particles through ingestion and adhesion, with responses varying by species and coral morphology. The study suggests that microplastic exposure could affect reef-building corals, which are already under stress from climate change and ocean acidification.

2017 Environmental Pollution 291 citations