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Microplastic Pollution in Indonesian Waters: Characteristics, Ecological Impacts, and Mitigation Strategies
Summary
This review pulls together existing research showing that Indonesia's waters—especially near crowded cities like Jakarta—are heavily polluted with tiny plastic particles called microplastics, mostly in the form of fragments, fibers, and foam. These particles are harming fish and shellfish by damaging their digestive systems and lowering their nutritional value, which matters for humans since many of us eat seafood from these same waters. The good news: the researchers highlight practical fixes like cutting single-use plastics, upgrading wastewater treatment, and better waste management that could reduce this contamination.
Microplastic pollution in waters poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems in Indonesia. This study aims to examine the variations in microplastic types based on shape and polymer, abundance, impacts on aquatic biota, and solutions through literature reviews from various sources. The results indicate that microplastic pollution has spread widely from western to eastern Indonesia. The highest abundance was found in areas with high population density and anthropogenic activity, such as Banten Bay, Jakarta Bay, and the South Coast of Java. Microplastic forms are dominated by fragments, fibers, films, and foams. Polymer identification shows a dominance of PP and PE as well as specific industrial polymers. The impact of contamination occurs on various biota, from fish to invertebrates, causing decreased nutritional quality, digestive damage, and metabolic disorders. Mitigation includes reducing single-use plastics, improving waste management, Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) technology, bioremediation, as well as the role of the community and government policies.