Microplastics and heavy metals in the coastal areas: Marine health assessment and ecosystem services values

Coastal areas are vital for their ecosystem services, but rapid urbanization and industrialization in these regions present significant challenges, particularly with heavy metal pollution and microplastics. This research focuses on thoroughly investigating heavy metals (HMs), microplastics, and how marine pollution affects ecosystem services. As microplastic (MPs) pollution becomes an increasingly concerning environmental issue, understanding its ecological impact is essential for effective pollution control. The toxicity of MPs in marine ecosystems is exacerbated by their interactions with other pollutants, such as HMs resulting from human activities. A comprehensive review of English-language articles in the Scopus database, covering the years 2010–2024, was conducted with a focus on heavy metals and microplastics in marine environments. The search utilized keywords like "marine pollution" and "risk assessment," alongside specific terms like "microplastic" and "heavy metals," to capture a broad range of marine pollution topics and their effects on aquatic and coastal ecosystems. The strategy targeted articles mentioning interventions in their abstracts or keywords, leading to the identification of 207 relevant studies. The data collected were then analyzed using VOSviewer software for deeper insights. This research underscores the potential ecological risks posed by MPs and HMs to marine life, while also highlighting the importance of environmental conservation within the framework of sustainable development. Addressing pollution effectively requires a detailed analysis of MPs, a thorough examination of pollution sources, an assessment of their ecological impacts, and the formulation of effective reduction strategies. This study provides a theoretical foundation that fills a crucial research gap, offering valuable insights into pollution in coastal and marine environments.