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Microplastic contamination in water and tabingalan fish (
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Scientists found tiny plastic particles (microplastics) both in the water and inside fish from a reservoir in Indonesia that people rely on for food—with tiny plastic fibers being the most common type found. Interestingly, cleaner-looking water didn't mean less plastic contamination, and how much plastic was in the water didn't clearly predict how much ended up in the fish, suggesting other factors affect how these particles build up in the food we eat. This matters because it's a reminder that fish from contaminated waters could be a hidden source of microplastic exposure for people, even when water quality seems fine on the surface.
Microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems has become an increasingly important environmental issue due to its potential to enter aquatic food chains. This study aimed to examine the types, abundance, and relationship of microplastics in water and tabingalan fish ( Puntioplites bulu) in the PLTA Koto Panjang Reservoir, Riau Province, Indonesia. The study was conducted from May to July 2025 using a survey method at three stations representing different levels of anthropogenic activity. Microplastics were identified through filtration and microscopic analysis based on morphological characteristics. Five types of microplastics were found in water samples, namely fiber, film, fragment, pellet, and granule, with fiber as the dominant type. Three types of microplastics, namely fiber, film, and fragment, were detected in the digestive organs of Tabingalan fish. Microplastic abundance ranged from 335.2 to 477.8 particles/m³ in water and from 8.46 to 16.91 particles per individual in fish. Regression analysis indicated a very weak negative relationship between microplastic abundance in water and fish (R² = 0.0092), suggesting that additional biological and environmental factors may influence microplastic accumulation in aquatic organisms. Although water quality parameters were within normal ranges, they did not limit microplastic distribution. These findings confirm that the reservoir is contaminated by microplastics.
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