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Analysis of microplastics in spring water
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Researchers sampled six natural springs in Batu City, Indonesia, and detected microplastics in all of them at concentrations of 208–354 particles per cubic meter, even though the water otherwise met drinking water quality standards. The most common plastic types found were nylon, LDPE, PET, and PVC, suggesting that microplastic contamination reaches even groundwater-fed spring sources.
Springs are crucial as primary water sources for various human needs, including in Batu City, East Java, Indonesia. Preserving the integrity of these springs is essential to protect them from contamination, including emerging pollutants such as microplastics, which have been reported in aquatic ecosystems. Therefore, it is vital to analyze the presence of microplastics in springs to mitigate pollution. However, there is a lack of studies reporting the content of microplastics in springs, particularly in Batu City. This study aims to analyze microplastics in multiple springs within Batu City using a descriptive research method. The research materials encompass the abundance and characteristics of microplastics and various water quality parameters such as dissolved oxygen, pH, temperature, turbidity, color, total dissolved solids, taste, odor, and current velocity. Sampling was conducted at six springs in Batu City: Sumber Ngesong, Sumber Banyuning, Sumber Gemulo, Sumber Torong Belok, Sumber Kasinan, and Sumber Dari. The findings of this study indicate that the water quality in the springs of Batu City complies with established standards. However, microplastics were detected in all the sampled springs, with concentrations ranging from 208 to 354 particles/m³. The identified microplastics primarily included fibers, films, and fragments. MP polymers obtained in this study were Nylon, Low-Density Polyethylene (LDPE), Polyethylene terephthalate (PETE), and Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Based on the study results, while the water in the spring area of Batu City meets water quality standards, it is necessary to implement mitigation measures to address the emerging pollutant pollution, such as microplastics, to safeguard the springs as a vital water source for human life. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to report the characteristics of microplastics in the springs of Batu City.
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