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Characterisation and abundance of microplastic pollution in sediments of Banten Bay, Indonesia
Summary
Scientists found tiny plastic particles (mostly small fragments and fibers made of common plastics like polypropylene and polyethylene) buried in the seafloor sediment of Banten Bay, Indonesia, likely from nearby industrial and residential growth. This matters because these coastal waters are used for fishing, and microplastics in sediment can work their way up the food chain into the seafood people eat, though this study didn't directly test human health effects.
The coastal waters of Banten are experiencing rapid ecosystem changes due to massive expansion in residential, industrial, and commercial sectors in the area. Banten Bay, as a semi-enclosed water, is characterised by shallow depths and sandy-muddy substrates. Microplastics have become serious pollutant worldwide, including in the coastal waters of Banten, with the main source of increasing plastic waste accumulattion. This study aims oo determinethe characteristics of the shape, size and colour of microplastics identified in sediment and determine the types of microplastics polymers in sediment in Banten Bay, Indonesia. This study successfully revealed that microplastics were detected at all sampling points. In July and August, microplastic abundance was measured at 346 ± 144.24 particles/kg dry weight and 182 ± 82.97 particles/kg dry weight, with medians and standard errors of 290 ± 45.61 and 160 ± 26.24 particles/kg dry weight, respectively. Fragments and fibres are type of microplastics found in sediments iin Banten Bay, with the majority of microplastics measuring <300 μm and frequently exhibiting black, blue, and red in colours. Analysis by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicated that polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the most commonly identified polymers.