This study presents the first evidence of microplastics in natural sea turtle nests at Chagar Hutang Turtle Sanctuary (CHTS) on Redang Island, a crucial habitat for green turtles. Microplastics were detected in all studied turtle nests (0–70 cm depth), with a total abundance of 12,270 microplastic items per kg dry weight of sand. Fibers (80.7 %) were the most prevalent shape, primarily black (37.9 %), with a high proportion of small-sized particles (<300–1000 μm), indicating prolonged accumulation and environmental degradation. These microplastics, primarily polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyethylene (PE), are likely from fishing nets, food packaging, and textiles. Despite the sanctuary's remote location, it is heavily impacted by microplastics carried by tides and wind, raising concerns about their potential effects on turtle egg incubation. The findings offer critical insights into the impact of microplastics on turtle habitats and underscore the urgent need for conservation efforts to protect green sea turtles in Malaysia.

中文翻译：

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马来西亚热浪岛天然海龟巢穴中的微塑料污染


这项研究首次提供了热浪岛 Chagar Hutang 海龟保护区 （CHTS） 天然海龟巢中塑料微粒的证据，热浪岛是绿海龟的重要栖息地。在所有研究的海龟巢穴（0-70 厘米深）中检测到微塑料，每公斤干重沙子的总丰度为 12,270 个微塑料。纤维 （80.7 %） 是最普遍的形状，主要是黑色 （37.9 %），小颗粒比例高 （<300–1000 μm），表明长期积累和环境退化。这些微塑料，主要是聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯 （PET） 和聚乙烯 （PE），可能来自渔网、食品包装和纺织品。尽管该保护区地处偏远，但它受到潮汐和风携带的微塑料的严重影响，引发了人们对它们对海龟蛋孵化潜在影响的担忧。这些发现为微塑料对海龟栖息地的影响提供了重要见解，并强调了保护马来西亚绿海龟的迫切需要。