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Analysis of microplastic abundance, polymer composition, and the effect of natural filtration on traditionally produced cooking salt from Watu Asa Village
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Researchers studied traditional sea salt production in Watu Asa Village, Indonesia, testing charcoal, sand, and fiber filters. Microplastic levels jumped from 285 particles per liter in the brine to 35,000 particles per kilogram in finished salt crystals, with fibers and fragments under 250 micrometers found in all samples, despite charcoal filtering improving salt's chemical quality.
Produksi garam laut tradisional sangat rentan terhadap sampah laut, namun data komprehensif mengenai kontaminasi mikroplastik dan peningkatan kualitas melalui teknologi filtrasi pada sistem berbasis perebusan di wilayah pesisir berkembang seperti Sumba Tengah masih sangat terbatas. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kualitas fisik-kimia, kelimpahan ternormalisasi, karakteristik morfologi, dan komposisi polimer spesifik dari mikroplastik pada garam laut dan air tua (brine) dari wilayah pesisir dekat estuari Desa Watu Asa. Penelitian ini menggunakan rancangan acak lengkap dengan tiga ulangan untuk mengevaluasi perlakuan filtrasi fisik menggunakan media arang, pasir, dan ijuk, beserta kontrol. Sampel dianalisis untuk kadar air dan kadar NaCl, yang dilanjutkan dengan destruksi basah menggunakan H₂O₂ 30%, kuantifikasi di bawah stereomikroskop, dan identifikasi kimia melalui spektroskopi fourier transform infrared. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa perlakuan filtrasi berpengaruh nyata terhadap kadar air dan NaCl (p<0,05), di mana filtrasi arang menghasilkan kadar NaCl tertinggi sebesar 95,60±0,53% dan menurunkan kadar air menjadi 5,20±0,12%. Lebih lanjut, uji t sampel independen menunjukkan perbedaan yang signifikan pada kelimpahan mikroplastik antara air tua dan kristal garam akhir (P<0,05). Kontaminasi mikroplastik menunjukkan prevalensi 100%, melonjak dari 285 partikel/L pada air tua menjadi 35.000±2.500 partikel/kg pada kristal garam. Serat dan fragmen mendominasi dengan ukuran di bawah 250 µm, sementara spektroskopi FTIR mengidentifikasi berbagai polimer sintetis termasuk poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), polietilena (PE), poliakrilonitril (PAN), dan poliuretan (PU). Penelitian ini menyimpulkan bahwa meskipun filtrasi arang cangkang kelapa berhasil meningkatkan kualitas fisik-kimia garam tradisional hingga memenuhi standar nasional, akumulasi fragmen berukuran mikro yang masif menyajikan peringatan keamanan pangan krusial yang menuntut intervensi mendesak dan tingkat lanjut.
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