Scientists discover 'plasticorals': dead coral fused with melted household plastic
New plastic pollution discovered: 'Plasticorals' coral rubble fused with plastic
During beach litter surveys on Okinawa, researchers from OIST and the University of the Ryukyus found brightly colored specks embedded in pale coral rubble. Spectroscopy showed the specks were melted polymers from everyday plastics, fused inseparably into the pores of dead coral. Dubbed 'plasticorals', these plastiglomerates likely form when beach fires melt plastic waste against coral, and they persist as lasting markers of human impact on reefs already stressed by climate change.
These specks are, in fact, melted polymers from common household plastics that have seeped inseparably into the skeletal pores of the dead coral pieces.