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Preliminary Report of Microplastic (MPs) Presence on East Java Freshwater Sponges at Brantas Porong River
Summary
Freshwater sponges (Oncosclera asiatica) from the Brantas Porong River in East Java were examined for microplastic contamination, representing a preliminary study of microplastics in a rare and understudied freshwater organism. As filter feeders, the sponges accumulated microplastics from the surrounding water, with physical characteristics of the particles characterized.
Microplastics are plastic fragments in the size range of >1 μm to <5 mm. Microplastics are a global concern because of their presence in various ecosystems to organisms and their tendency to hurt organisms. Due to their small size, microplastics can be easily ingested by organisms, including sponges. Freshwater sponges are rare in the world. As a filter feeder organism, sponges can accumulate microplastics into their bodies. This study aims to analyze the physical characteristics of microplastic abundance in freshwater sponges in Porong River, Mojokerto City, East Java. Oncosclera asiatica and Eunapius carteri sponge samples were taken from Porong River at a depth of about 1 meter. Analysis of physical characteristics (size, color, and shape) was conducted using a stereo microscope and Optilab. The abundance of microplastics in O. asiatica was found to be 1150 particles/20 grams wet weight. The physical characteristics that dominate O. asiatica sponges are red and black fibers, black fragments, and pellets. The abundance of microplastics in E. carteri was found to be 2.850 particles/20 grams wet weight. The physical characteristics that dominate E. carteri sponges are white foam, crystal pellets, blue fibers, and black fragments.