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

Abstract

We investigated the microplastics (MP) abundance, characteristics and pollution severity in the six coral reef ecosystems along the southern and western coasts of Sri Lanka during the southwest monsoon. The small blue-coloured fibres dominated within coral reefs and reef environments. The average coral, surface water and surface sediment MP concentration were 806.64 ± 93.72 particles kg−1ww, 23.42 ± 5.01 particles m−3, and 54.11 ± 8.04 particles kg−1dw, respectively. Coral MP concentration was significantly correlated with surface water (r = 0.65) and surface sediments (r = 0.59) indicating that the reef environment was the source of coral MP enrichment. Coral MP concentration was spatially different (p < 0.05) which may likely be due to the changes in winds, waves, coral biology and plastic sources. MP Pollution Load Index indicated that low MP contamination hazard. Since the presence of MP often deteriorates coral's health, further investigations are necessary to understand the MP's effects on the health of coral reef ecosystems.