Papers

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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution status in the coral reef ecosystems on the Southern and Western coasts of Sri Lanka during the Southwest monsoon

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination in six coral reef ecosystems along Sri Lanka's southern and western coasts during monsoon season. They found that small blue fibers were the dominant type, and that microplastic levels in corals were strongly linked to concentrations in surrounding water and sediment. The study suggests that while current contamination levels are relatively low, microplastics may still threaten coral health and warrant further monitoring.

2024 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Unveiling the hidden threat of microplastics to coral reefs in remote South Atlantic islands

Researchers investigated microplastic contamination of coral reefs on remote South Atlantic islands, finding widespread microplastic presence in reef environments and raising concerns about the physiological and ecological harm to coral ecosystems far from human population centers.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 19 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

Plastics are a new threat to Palau’s coral reefs

Researchers detected microplastics in seawater, sediments, and beach sand around the pristine coral reef system of Palau, confirming that even remote, well-protected marine environments are not free from plastic pollution and highlighting the global reach of this contamination.

2022 PLoS ONE 25 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

The Distribution and Impact of Microplastics on Coral Reefs: an Ecosystem Approach

This study examines the distribution and ecological impact of microplastics on coral reef ecosystems, providing a Ph.D.-level ecosystem approach to understanding how microplastic pollution affects reef health and biodiversity.

2025 National University of Singapore
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

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

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

Microplastics as a sedimentary component in reef systems: A case study from the Java Sea

Researchers investigated microplastic distribution in sediments from two tropical atoll reef platforms in Indonesia. The study found that microplastics are a component of reef sediments, with distribution patterns influenced by reef geomorphology and hydrodynamic processes, highlighting the need to better understand how microplastics accumulate in coral reef systems and their potential impacts on reef health.

2021 Sedimentology 54 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

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

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

Investigating the composition and distribution of microplastics surface biofilms in coral areas

Researchers investigated the composition and distribution of microbial biofilms on microplastic surfaces collected from coral reef areas. The study found that microplastics harbor distinct microbial communities including potentially pathogenic species, raising concerns that microplastic pollution may contribute to coral disease by serving as vectors for harmful microorganisms in reef ecosystems.

2020 Chemosphere 158 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal ecosystems: a review of sources, distribution, and ecological implications

Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination in Kerala's coastal waters and sediments, finding concentrations as high as 200 particles per liter in some areas, with pollution disrupting mangrove and coral reef ecosystems, entering the food chain through seafood, and posing inflammation and endocrine disruption risks to humans.

2025 Discover Geoscience 6 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 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

Impact of micro-and nanoplastic contamination on reef-building corals

Researchers exposed two tropical coral species to micro- and nanoplastics of varying polymer types and assessed bleaching, symbiont loss, and tissue damage. Both species showed stress responses including reduced photosynthetic efficiency and partial bleaching, with effects varying by plastic type and size, suggesting reef-building corals are vulnerable to plastic pollution.

2025
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

The presence of microplastics in fishes of South Maldives

Researchers found microplastics in the gut, gills, and flesh of two fish species collected from South Maldives, with 80% of one species containing plastic particles, indicating widespread ingestion by reef fish in this remote island nation and potential transfer into the human food chain.

2022 IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science 5 citations
Article Tier 2

The microscopic threat with a macroscopic impact: Microplastics along the southeast Florida reef tract

Researchers sampled surface and bottom waters along the Southeast Florida Reef Tract over six months, finding 1,204 microplastic items across seven polymer types, with significantly more plastic at the surface than the seafloor. Five additional chemical contaminants were detected on the plastics, confirming that microplastics act as vectors for hazardous substances near fragile coral reef ecosystems. The study calls for both improved plastic waste management and active clean-up to protect these reefs.

2023 Marine Pollution Bulletin 7 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

A systematic review of microplastics in coral reef ecosystems: Abundance, distribution, toxicity, and future research directions

This systematic review examined 125 studies on microplastic pollution in coral reef ecosystems. Corals are ingesting microplastics, which can cause tissue damage, stress responses, and impaired growth. Since coral reefs support roughly 25% of all marine species and many fisheries that feed coastal communities, their contamination with microplastics has far-reaching consequences for ocean health and food security.

2025 Marine Pollution Bulletin 2 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