Microplastic pollution and risk assessment around coral reefs of the Eastern Part, Thailand

Microplastic pollution, driven by widespread plastic use and poor management, poses a growing threat to marine ecosystems, particularly coral reefs. This study examined microplastic pollution and risk assessment in the surface waters around coral reefs in the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC) in Eastern Part, Thailand. Microplastics were widespread, with concentrations ranging from 0.05 to 0.54 items/m³ and an average of 0.22 ± 0.16 items/m³. The distribution varied among the reefs, with over 80% of the microplastics exceeding 3 mm in size. The most common shapes were fibers and sheets, with polypropylene (31.25%), polyethylene (19.35%), and PET (18.45%) being the predominant polymers. Si-Chang Island had the highest microplastic abundance, likely due to pollution from residential, industrial, and tourism activities. Risk assessments indicated that Lan Island faced a higher risk of microplastic contamination compared to other areas. While the overall abundance of microplastics was relatively low, the potential impact on coral reefs warrants concern. Periodic monitoring, removal, and mitigation efforts are recommended to address this issue.