Microplastic pollution in Deli River Medan

Abstract

Microplastic is new pollution and made from a synthetic polymer. The Deli River is one of the main rivers in Medan city that flow on urban and suburban areas. This study has aims to identify the characteristics (shape and type), the quantity, and the microplastic correlation with the flow velocity. Sample collected at eight locations based on SNI 03-70160-2004 and preparation in the laboratory with organic digestion and density separation. The microplastic characterized identified with FTIR and microscopy, the quantity identified with microscopy. Analyze the relation tested by Kolmogorov-Smirnov Test and significance tested by Pearson Correlation at a 95% confidence level. The result showed that Deli River contains polyethylene, Polypropylene, and Polystyrene with film and fragment shape dominated. The average microplastic quantity on Deli River Water is 102 particles L-1. The amount of microplastic has a positive correlation with the flow velocity. Most of the microplastic on Deli River Water in Medan came from secondary microplastic.