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The spatial distribution of microplastics in correlation with water quality parameters from the upstream to the downstream of the longest river in East Java, Indonesia
Summary
Scientists found that a major river system in Indonesia gets increasingly contaminated with tiny plastic particles as it flows downstream, with pollution levels nearly quadrupling by the time the water reaches populated coastal areas. This matters because these rivers are linked to drinking water and food sources, and the researchers found the plastic contamination reached "high to very high-risk" levels—meaning the plastics people and wildlife are exposed to downstream may pose greater health hazards than previously realized.
A comprehensive study of the distribution patterns and potential sources of pollution that contribute to the prevalence of microplastics (MPs) in the Brantas River, Surabaya River, and Porong River, Indonesia has been conducted. The results of this study indicates that the concentration of MPs increases from the upstream to the downstream sections of the river (Jonckheere-Terpstra Test, p = 0.001). The concentration of MPs increases from 6.90 particles/L in the upstream to 26.29 particles/L in the downstream, with fragment shapes, black and transparent colors, and sizes below 100 μm as the predominant MPs observed. Elastic Net regression (R = 0.572, MSE = 16.208, RMSE = 4.026, Lambda = 10.374, and Alpha = 0.071) indicates that the MP concentration in this river shows a negative correlation with stream velocity, phosphate, dissolved oxygen (DO), and nitrate, while demonstrating a positive correlation with biological oxygen demand (BOD), temperature, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and total suspended solids (TSS). Four polymers-polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), and polypropylene (PP)-were identified at the research stations. The polymer hazard index (PHI) demonstrates an increasing trend from upstream to downstream, with values ranging from 206 to 2247, corresponding to hazard classes III and IV. This indicates that the river is classified within the high to very high-risk category.