Microplastics have emerged as a global environmental issue, inducing harmful effects on marine ecosystems and biodiversity. Their small size allows them to easily disperse across different ecosystems and enter the marine food chain, increasingly threatening coral ecosystems. This study hypothesizes that exposure to polyethylene microplastics alters the structure of coral skeletons. To test this, Briareum violacea corals were cultured under controlled conditions and exposed to polyethylene microplastics at concentrations of 0, 5, 10, 50, 100, and 300 mg/L for seven days. Skeletal structures were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, while inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was employed to assess changes in skeletal solubility and measure total calcium ion concentrations in seawater. The results revealed a transformation of coral skeletons from aragonite calcium carbonate crystals to amorphous calcium carbonate, as observed through X-ray diffraction analysis, with polyethylene microplastics causing this transformation to begin at a concentration of 10 mg/L. Additionally, skeletal solubility increased by 7.4-fold, as inferred from calcium ion concentrations measured by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Here we demonstrate that polyethylene microplastic exposure directly drives the degradation of coral skeletons, emphasizing the urgency of mitigating plastic pollution to safeguard coral ecosystems.

微塑料已成为一个全球性环境问题，对海洋生态系统和生物多样性造成有害影响。它们的小体型使它们很容易分散在不同的生态系统中并进入海洋食物链，从而日益威胁珊瑚生态系统。本研究假设暴露于聚乙烯微塑料会改变珊瑚骨骼的结构。为了测试这一点，在受控条件下培养 Briareum violacea 珊瑚，并暴露于浓度为 0、5、10、50、100 和 300 mg/L 的聚乙烯微塑料中 7 天。使用 X 射线衍射分析骨骼结构，同时采用电感耦合等离子体质谱法评估骨骼溶解度的变化并测量海水中的总钙离子浓度。结果显示，通过 X 射线衍射分析观察到珊瑚骨架从文石碳酸钙晶体转变为无定形碳酸钙，聚乙烯微塑料导致这种转变从 10 mg/L 的浓度开始。此外，骨骼溶解度增加了 7.4 倍，这是从电感耦合等离子体质谱法测量的钙离子浓度推断出来的。在这里，我们证明了聚乙烯微塑料暴露直接导致珊瑚骨骼的降解，强调了减轻塑料污染以保护珊瑚生态系统的紧迫性。