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Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Fresh Fish and Pindang Fish and its Potential Health Hazards in Coastal Communities of Banyuwangi Regency, Indonesia
Summary
Researchers analyzed microplastic contamination in fresh and processed pindang fish from the coastal community of Muncar, Banyuwangi, Indonesia, and surveyed local consumption habits. They found microplastics present in fish samples and used statistical analysis to explore potential correlations with health outcomes reported by local residents. The study highlights concerns about dietary microplastic exposure in communities that depend heavily on seafood.
This study aimed to analyze the microplastic contamination of fresh and pindang fish and its health impact on the coast of Muncar, Banyuwangi Regency, Indonesia. In this study, a total of 115 respondents participated, providing questionnaire data on their fish consumption habits and health problems. Subsequently, spearman’s correlation coefficient, a non-parametric statistical test, was used to analyze the questionnaire data. This study also included 100 samples of marine fish, consisting of 89 fresh fish and 11 pindang fish from various types of marine species. The content of microplastic polymers detected through FTIR (Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy) was around 3-5 microplastic polymers/fish samples, and the most dominant were Polyethylene, Polyester, Polycaprolactam (Nylon 6) and Polyamide. This study showed that 94 percent of fish samples contained microplastics and only 6 percent of samples did not contain microplastics. The intensity of pindang fish consumption was positively correlated with respondents’ health symptoms and problems. Subsequently, implementing effective waste management systems and educational programs in the coastal areas is crucial in reducing the pollution of seawater resulting from inadequate waste disposal practices.