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Distribusi Spasial Dan Karakteristik Mikroplastik Pada Sedimen Di Hilir Sungai Bengawan Solo: Pendekatan Morfologi, Ukuran, Dan Warna
Summary
Scientists studying Indonesia's Bengawan Solo River found hundreds of tiny plastic particles per kilogram of river sediment, with levels increasing downstream as trash breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces during its journey to the sea. This matters because these microplastics—many small enough to be invisible to the naked eye—can be absorbed by fish and other aquatic life that people eat, meaning the plastic pollution we create upstream may eventually end up on our dinner plates.
Microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems has emerged as a critical environmental issue due to its potential impacts on aquatic organisms and ecosystem health. This study aimed to assess the abundance and characterize microplastics in sediment from the downstream section of the Bengawan Solo River, Indonesia. Sediment samples were collected from three sites (Babat, Dukun, and Ujung Pangkah) along a gradient of anthropogenic activity. Microplastics were extracted by density separation with saturated NaCl solution, digested with H ₂O ₂, and filtered through glass fiber membranes. Identification was performed under a light microscope at40× magnification based on morphology, size, and color. The results showed that microplastic abundance ranged from 703.70 to 964.30 particles/kg dry weight, with the highest concentration observed in Ujung Pangkah. Morphologically, microplastics were dominated by fragments and pellets in Babat, fibers and fragments in Dukun, and a more balanced composition in UjungPangkah. Size distribution revealed a dominance of particles <100 μm in the downstream area, indicating progressive fragmentation during transport. In terms of color, black and brown particles predominated across all sites, suggesting extensive weathering processes. Overall, the findings demonstrate a clear spatial gradient in both the abundance and characteristics of microplasticsalong the downstream river continuum, reflecting the combined influence of pollution sources, transport dynamics, and sedimentary accumulation. These results provide important insights into the environmental behavior of microplastics in riverine systems and their potential ecological implications.