Contamination of microplastics in tropical coral reef ecosystems of Sri Lanka

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2023-09, Vol.194 (Pt A), p.115299-115299, Article 115299
• Main Authors: Hansani, K.U.D.N., Thilakarathne, E.P.D.N., Koongolla, J. Bimali, Gunathilaka, W.G.I.T., Perera, B.G.D.O., Weerasingha, W.M.P.U., Egodauyana, K.P.U.T.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acropora; Coral reef pollution; Corals; Indian ocean; Microplastics; Missing plastic
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115299

Microplastics (MPs) in different marine compartments are a global concern. This study investigated the abundance, distribution, and characteristics of microplastics from ten coral reef ecosystems in Sri Lanka, a non-quantified threat for some context. Microplastics were isolated and quantified in terms of abundance, shape, size, color, and polymer type with average abundances 546.7 ± 170.3 items kg−1, 9.8 ± 7.6 items m−3, and 46.3 ± 29.7 items kg−1 in corals, water, and sediments respectively. The most dominant microplastic type was blue, LDPE fibres. Acropora exhibited the highest amount. The significant differences in average microplastic abundances among corals suggest that they are capable of enriching microplastics depending on species-specific characteristics. Similar microplastic characteristics in corals and reef environment indicate that corals may have enriched microplastics from surface water and surface sediments. Microplastics being ubiquitous in selected reefs highlights the importance of coral reefs as a long-term microplastic sink in the ocean, contributing to the missing plastic phenomena. •MP are ubiquitous in corals, surface water and surface sediments in coral reef ecosystems of Sri Lanka.•Corals possibly enrich MPs from the reef environment.•MP enriching capacity of corals may depend on species-specific characteristics.•Corals of genus Acropora pretended to accumulate the highest abundance of MPs.