Microplastics Found in Two‑Thirds of Corals in Malaysia’s Protected Marine Park

A new study released in *Regional Studies in Marine Science* reports that 64% of coral fragments sampled in Pulau Redang Marine Park contain microplastics. Researchers from Universiti Malaysia Terengganu collected 200 fragments from five reef sites around the park, which has been a marine protected area since 1985. The microplastics—particles 5 mm or smaller—originated from industrial pellets, microbeads in personal‑care products, and the breakdown of larger plastic items such as bottles and fishing gear. The team wrapped sample containers in foil to avoid airborne contamination and used careful laboratory analysis to detect the particles embedded in coral skeletons. The discovery that such a high proportion of corals in a protected zone are contaminated highlights the pervasive reach of plastic pollution in marine ecosystems.