Papers

61,005 results
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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

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

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

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

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

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 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

Spatial distribution characteristics of microplastics in the seawater column and sediments of the artificial reef area and adjacent water in Haizhou Bay

Researchers measured microplastic abundance and distribution in seawater and bottom sediments across aquaculture, artificial reef, and adjacent areas of Haizhou Bay, China, finding that mean abundances in seawater were 7-10 particles per cubic meter and varied with water depth. Microplastic distribution was influenced by hydrodynamic conditions and the proximity to aquaculture and reef structures.

2023 The Science of The Total Environment 29 citations
Article Tier 2

Quantitative and qualitative determination of microplastics in oyster, seawater and sediment from the coastal areas in Zhuhai, China

Researchers quantified microplastics in oysters, seawater, and sediment along the Zhuhai coastline, finding 0.14–7.90 items/g in oyster soft tissue, 10–27.5 items/L in seawater, and 0.053–0.26 items/g in sediment, with polyethylene fibers as the dominant type across all matrices.

2021 Marine Pollution Bulletin 107 citations
Article Tier 2

The spatial distribution of microplastic in the sands of a coral reef island in the South China Sea: Comparisons of the fringing reef and atoll

Microplastic abundance in coral reef island sands of the South China Sea was measured at fringing reef sites (90–530 items/kg) and atoll sites (60–610 items/kg), with the lower-human-activity Xisha Islands atoll showing higher concentrations attributed to oceanic current accumulation. The study reveals that even remote coral reef ecosystems are contaminated with microplastics and that oceanographic factors can outweigh local human activity.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 74 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

Composition and distribution of microplastics in the surface seawater of Xisha Islands

Researchers surveyed microplastics in surface seawater at 30 stations around the Xisha Islands coral reef area in China, finding a mean abundance of 54.7 pieces per cubic meter with sizes predominantly in the 1-3 mm range. Transparent (56.8%) and blue (40.2%) particles dominated colorimetrically, and the study established a baseline for microplastic pollution in this oligotrophic oceanic region.

2020 Chinese Science Bulletin (Chinese Version) 19 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

Distribution and characteristics of microplastics in the tidal flats of Sanya Bay, China

Microplastic distribution was characterized at 10 sampling sites in the tidal flats of Sanya Bay, finding widespread contamination with polyethylene and polypropylene fragments as the dominant types. The study provides baseline data for assessing microplastic risks to intertidal marine organisms in a tropical bay ecosystem.

2023 Journal of marine environmental engineering 3 citations
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 prevalence in marine fish from onshore Beibu Gulf, South China Sea

Researchers examined 271 fish across 32 species from the Beibu Gulf and found microplastics in the majority of samples, with fibers being the most common type and abundance varying by species, feeding habits, and habitat.

2022 Frontiers in Marine Science 20 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution and Its Potential Correlation with Environmental Factors in Daya Bay, South China Sea

Researchers surveyed 26 sites in Daya Bay, China, finding microplastics in both surface water (up to ~14 items/L) and sediment (up to ~823 items/kg), with fibers and PET the dominant types. The study also identified correlations between microplastic abundance and environmental factors, highlighting how coastal waters near urbanized areas accumulate significant plastic contamination that threatens marine life.

2023 Journal of Marine Science and Engineering 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in surface seawater of Sanggou Bay, China: Occurrence, source and inventory

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the surface seawater of Sanggou Bay, China, finding average abundances of 20.06 items per litre dominated by polyethylene fragments smaller than 0.5 mm, and estimating that approximately 62.76% of the microplastic inventory originated from local aquaculture and fishing activities.

2020 Marine Pollution Bulletin 80 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

Microplastic pollution in North Yellow Sea, China: Observations on occurrence, distribution and identification

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution across the North Yellow Sea, documenting their occurrence, distribution, and characteristics, and finding widespread contamination with higher concentrations in coastal areas and near river inputs.

2018 The Science of The Total Environment 412 citations
Article Tier 2

Assessment of microplastic abundance and characteristics in the coastal water of Hai Phong, Vietnam

Researchers assessed microplastic abundance and characteristics in coastal waters of Hai Phong, Vietnam, finding concentrations of 11.1 items per cubic meter in net samples and 1,515.4 items per cubic meter in bucket samples, with fibers accounting for more than 60% of the 2,659 particles identified.

2025 Vietnam Journal of Marine Science and Technology
Article Tier 2

Distribution of Microplastics in Sediments of The Northern Natuna Sea

Researchers sampled sediments from eight stations in the Northern Natuna Sea and identified 258 microplastic particles ranging from 400 to 1020 pieces/kg dry weight. Fibers and fragments dominated, with transparent and black particles most common, providing baseline contamination data for this understudied region of the South China Sea.

2025 Jurnal Ilmiah Perikanan dan Kelautan
Article Tier 2

Distribution characteristics of microplastics in the seawater and sediment: A case study in Jiaozhou Bay, China

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in the seawater and sediments of Jiaozhou Bay, a semi-enclosed bay in China heavily impacted by human activity. They found microplastic concentrations of 20 to 120 items per cubic meter in seawater and 7 to 25 items per kilogram in sediment, with fibers being the dominant shape and PET the most common polymer. The study found positive correlations between microplastic levels in water and sediment, and higher concentrations near areas with residual ocean currents.

2019 The Science of The Total Environment 299 citations