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Detection of microplastic existence trapped with periphyton in some rivers in The Regency of Sumedang
Summary
This Thai study detected microplastics trapped within periphyton — the complex assemblages of algae, microbes, and organic matter that coat river surfaces — in several rivers. The findings reveal that river periphyton acts as a collector of microplastic particles, potentially concentrating them in a form that is readily ingested by aquatic organisms.
Abstract Plastic pollution is not just a mere concern of marine pollution as this issue has become the concerning topics on terrestrial and freshwater environments, especially in the rivers, where many serve as a source of water for anthropogenic activities. Over the course of time, microplastics can be trapped in periphyton assemblages in the water column, especially by microalgae through their exo-polysaccharide components. This research was conducted to determine the presence of microplastics attached to the periphyton in relation to the abundance of periphyton aggregates in the Cipeles subwatershed, namely Cihonje River, Cileuleuy River, Cigede River, and Cipanyirapan River. The four sampling stations on each river section were purposively chosen based on the land use, with three repetition plots on each. The highest abundance of periphyton was encountered in the Cihonje river, while the lowest abundance was found in the Cipanyirapan River. Bacillariophyceae was the most present abundance class in all four rivers. The highest microplastics abundance was encountered in the Cileuleuy River, measuring, while the lowest abundance was found in the Cihonje River. The dominant type of microplastics is film, with black as the dominant colour. FTIR results from microplastic samples showed similarity to LDPE at the most.