Microplastic Contamination in the Waters of the Jebung River, Sungai Nibung Village

Abstract

Plastic waste has become a national and international issue. Plastic waste will degrade into smaller sizes, such as microplastics. Microplastic contamination can occur in coastal and marine areas which can have a negative impact on the environment, disrupting the balance of the ecosystem and aquatic biota. Sungai Jebung located in the coastal area of Desa Sungai Nibung, has the potential to microplastic pollution. This research aims to identify the type, density and type of polymer of microplastics in Sungai Jebung, Desa Sungai Nibung, West Kalimantan. Water sampling was carried out at three stations with two repetitions. Identification of microplastic types was carried out using a binocular microscope and polymer analysis was done using FTIR. The types of microplastics found in the water samples consisted of films, fibers, fragments and pellets. Film and fiber have a higher percentage compared to other types. The average total density of microplastics was 3,188.94 particles/L. The types of polymers found include polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), and polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE).