Beach Fires Create 'Plasticoral' as Melted Waste Fuses with Coral Rubble
Researchers in Japan have identified a new form of marine pollution called 'plasticoral,' where plastic waste has irreversibly fused with coral rubble. This phenomenon was discovered on beaches in the Ryukyu Islands, specifically Okinawa, where spectroscopic analysis revealed household polymers melted into the microscopic pores of coral skeletons. The fusion is likely caused by beach bonfires, as ocean temperatures are currently insufficient to melt plastic. While the long-term ecological impact is unknown, previous studies suggest such plastics can leach harmful chemicals or carry pathogens to living corals.
