The accumulation of plastic in the oceans is one of the biggest environmental problems of the 21st century. It is estimated that 4.8 to 12.7 million tons of plastic waste ends up in the ocean every year.breaking down into smaller particles called microplasticswho have them negative effects on aquatic animals and aquatic life.
Almost 70% of these plastics are mysteriously lostraising questions about its end. Now, a group of researchers from Japan and Thailand have found a the most important solution to the problem: the corals they are trapping these microplastics.
The study, which was conducted in Thailand and published in the journal ‘Science of the Total Environment’, examines the role of corals in maintaining microplastics and their impact on the reef’s future.
Since the problem of plastic pollution in the oceanscientists were wondering where most of the plastic ends up. Because the fraction ends. This phenomenon, called ‘The plastic problem is gone‘, has puzzled researchers for years.
The results of the last study show that Corals can act as ‘sinks’ for microplastics. The researchers found that corals are not alone They take in small particles and tissues, but they also store them in their bones..
Suppakarn Jandang (right) and his team prepare to collect coral samples for microplastic analysis. / Kyushu University / Isobe Lab
“The ‘missing plastic’ problem has been a major concern for scientists tracking ocean debris, but this evidence suggests that precious stones may help solve that mystery,” says Suppakarn Jandang, lead author of the study.
“Since coral bones remain empty after death, this microplastics preserved can be kept for hundreds of years, like mosquitoes in amber“he adds.
The material is as thick as human hair
To conduct the research, the team traveled to Si Chang Island in the Gulf of Thailand, where they collected coral samples from the surrounding waters. The area is known as a small reef area and is the subject of anthropological studies due to its proximity to inhabited areas.
The researchers chose four types of coralamong them Pocillopora cf. damicornisa type of microorganism that shows that the microorganism found in its bones.
The samples were carefully tested in the laboratory. A chemical method was used that allowed different parts of the coral to be broken down (mucus, muscle and bones) to identify and count the microplastics trapped in each layer. all, 174 small particles were found in 27 coral samples that were analyzed.
Coral stone. / Unsplash
Analysis of microplastics found in corals showed this Most of the particles were between 101 and 200 micrometers in size, about the thickness of a human hair..
The pieces represented the majority of microplastics (75% of the total), and the main colors were black, white and blue. Regarding the types of known polymers, a nylonhim polyacetylated and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were the most abundant, representing 20.11%, 14.37% and 9.77% of the particles detected, respectively.
“These results confirm that Not only are corals susceptible to microplastic damage, they also act as long-term storage for microplastics.“Says Jandang. “This discovery is important, because it shows that corals can play a role in keeping marine plastics, just as trees store CO2“he emphasizes.
Long-term effects
Although the study focused on the waters of the Gulf of Thailand, the corals analyzed are distributed in reefs around the world, ie. the event may spread. Scientists believe that corals’ ability to accumulate microplastics may exist long-term effects on all reefs and marine ecosystems everything.
Plastic is a problem for coralsbecause it changes their ability to grow and live. Over time, this accumulation can affect the formation of coral reefs, reducing their resistance to other stressors, such as climate change and ocean acidification.
A brief summary of the findings. / Kyushu University
The researchers insist that this is just the beginning of the long-term studies needed to understand how microplastics affect coral ecosystems.
“The corals we studied are globally distributed,” explains Atsuhiko Isobe, a co-author of the study. “In order to better understand the global impact, we need to do more research on different types of reefs and in different areas. In addition, we still do not know the exact effects that microplastics have on the health of corals and other aquatic populations.”.
“It is important to develop standardized methods for quantifying the amount of microplastics in corals and to create comparable data globally,” concludes Isobe. “This is the only way we can do it better assess the impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems and develop effective solutions to protect coral reefs, which are important for marine life,” he explains.
Reference report: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969724063666
……………….
Contact the Environment department: crisisclimatica@prensaiberica.es
