Spatial distribution of microplastic in sediment of the Citanduy River, West Java, Indonesia

Abstract

Microplastic particles have a significant impact on freshwater environments, as well as on biota association in its ecosystems. This study aims to identify and determine the spatial distribution of microplastic in sediments in Citanduy River, West Java. Microplastic was observed by census method on the SRC (Sedgewick Rafter-Counting Cell) with the help of a micrometer at 10x magnification. Analysis of statistic using MS. Excel 2007. For statistical studies, Kruskall Wallis and Mann Whitney are used for spatial analysis using ArcMap software. The highest microplastic abundance was in the downstream area, followed by the upstream; however, the lowest value was at the center of Citanduy River sediment. Microplastic abundance in this river was ranged 18,190–70,405 particles/kg of dry sediment. The determination of microplastic type found was fragments form. The dominant microplastic color was black. The microplastic of films and fragments were dominant by range 20–40 μm and dominant fibers was about 500–1,000 μm. Spatially distribution the abundance of the microplastic average at the substation and sampling station was found to be the highest at Substation 2 in downstream area and the distribution of the average abundance of microplastics decreased towards substations 1 and 3 at the downstream station.