Unraveling the invisible threat of microplastics to Lakshadweep Coral Atolls, Indian Ocean: Multifaceted ecological risk and pollution profiling.

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Auteurs principaux: Praved, P Hari, Sreeraj, P, Neethu, K V, Nandan, S Bijoy, Ravindran, Suraj, Marigoudar, S R
Format: Artículo científico
Langue:en
Publié: Journal of hazardous materials 2025
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author Praved, P Hari
Sreeraj, P
Neethu, K V
Nandan, S Bijoy
Ravindran, Suraj
Marigoudar, S R
author_facet Praved, P Hari
Sreeraj, P
Neethu, K V
Nandan, S Bijoy
Ravindran, Suraj
Marigoudar, S R
Praved, P Hari
Sreeraj, P
Neethu, K V
Nandan, S Bijoy
Ravindran, Suraj
Marigoudar, S R
collection PubMed - marine biology
contents Unraveling the invisible threat of microplastics to Lakshadweep Coral Atolls, Indian Ocean: Multifaceted ecological risk and pollution profiling. Praved, P Hari Sreeraj, P Neethu, K V Nandan, S Bijoy Ravindran, Suraj Marigoudar, S R Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in oceans, posing growing threats to coral reefs critical for tropical and subtropical biodiversity. However, in situ studies on MPs pollution in coral reefs remain limited. This study investigates the prevalence, characteristics, and ecological risks of MPs across the Lakshadweep archipelago, India's only coral atolls. MPs concentrations in surface seawater ranged from 10.75 ± 6.18 to 211.5 ± 207.31 items m⁻³ , while sediments ranged from 54 ± 21.48 to124.25 ± 76.63 items kg⁻¹ . Most MPs were fragments and fibers, smaller than 1 mm, primarily white and blue, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate as dominant polymers. Risk profiling using the Pollution Load Index, Polymeric Risk Index, Potential Ecological Risk Index, and Environmental Status Index identified high MPs pollution risks. The Integrated Microplastic Risk Index (IMRI) provides a holistic evaluation by objectively weighting multidimensional pollution attributes of MPs, classifying most islands as high risk and indicating that Lakshadweep's coral ecosystems are highly exposed to MPs pollution, suggesting that IMRI may be more suitable for coral reef ecosystems. Furthermore, Monsoon-driven currents, wind, and seasonal dynamics influence MPs transport and accumulation, with the Laccadive High during the winter monsoon creating convergent circulation near Lakshadweep, leading to localized MPs accumulation. These findings highlight the urgent need for continued monitoring and mitigation of MPs pollution in the Lakshadweep Sea.
format Artículo científico
id pubmed_40961706
institution PubMed
language en
publishDate 2025
publisher Journal of hazardous materials
record_format pubmed
spellingShingle Unraveling the invisible threat of microplastics to Lakshadweep Coral Atolls, Indian Ocean: Multifaceted ecological risk and pollution profiling.
Praved, P Hari
Sreeraj, P
Neethu, K V
Nandan, S Bijoy
Ravindran, Suraj
Marigoudar, S R
Unraveling the invisible threat of microplastics to Lakshadweep Coral Atolls, Indian Ocean: Multifaceted ecological risk and pollution profiling. Praved, P Hari Sreeraj, P Neethu, K V Nandan, S Bijoy Ravindran, Suraj Marigoudar, S R Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in oceans, posing growing threats to coral reefs critical for tropical and subtropical biodiversity. However, in situ studies on MPs pollution in coral reefs remain limited. This study investigates the prevalence, characteristics, and ecological risks of MPs across the Lakshadweep archipelago, India's only coral atolls. MPs concentrations in surface seawater ranged from 10.75 ± 6.18 to 211.5 ± 207.31 items m⁻³ , while sediments ranged from 54 ± 21.48 to124.25 ± 76.63 items kg⁻¹ . Most MPs were fragments and fibers, smaller than 1 mm, primarily white and blue, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate as dominant polymers. Risk profiling using the Pollution Load Index, Polymeric Risk Index, Potential Ecological Risk Index, and Environmental Status Index identified high MPs pollution risks. The Integrated Microplastic Risk Index (IMRI) provides a holistic evaluation by objectively weighting multidimensional pollution attributes of MPs, classifying most islands as high risk and indicating that Lakshadweep's coral ecosystems are highly exposed to MPs pollution, suggesting that IMRI may be more suitable for coral reef ecosystems. Furthermore, Monsoon-driven currents, wind, and seasonal dynamics influence MPs transport and accumulation, with the Laccadive High during the winter monsoon creating convergent circulation near Lakshadweep, leading to localized MPs accumulation. These findings highlight the urgent need for continued monitoring and mitigation of MPs pollution in the Lakshadweep Sea.
title Unraveling the invisible threat of microplastics to Lakshadweep Coral Atolls, Indian Ocean: Multifaceted ecological risk and pollution profiling.
url https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40961706/