Abundance of Microplastics in the Waters of Pelangan Village, West Lombok as an Indicator of Pollution

Background: Microplastics are plastic particles with micro (<5 mm). Its small size and long durability cause microplastics to potentially accumulate in the bodies of living things so that they can endanger the health of aquatic life. This study aims to analyze the level of microplastic pollution in Pelangan Village, West Lombok. Materials and Methods: The microplastic pollution test was carried out by collecting water samples, sediment samples, and samples of marine biota (gastropods) from three different locations, then extracted using the density separation method. The extracted microplastics were observed using a reverse microscope to identify the shape and color characteristics of the microplastic particles. Results: The results of this study show the types of microplastics found, namely fragments, films, fibers, pellets, and granules. Among the five types of microplastics found, fragment microplastics had the highest abundance and fiber-type microplastics had the lowest abundance. Meanwhile, based on the color of the MP particles, the proportions are black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green. Based on the color characteristics of MP particles, the proportions are black, white, red, blue, yellow, and green. Conclusion: The results of the study show that microplastic pollution has spread in the waters of Pelangan Village, which shows the potential impact on the coastal ecosystem, hence the need for better plastic waste management