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Identification and Quantification of Microplastics in Mackerel (Rastrelliger sp) at the Tual City Fish Market
Summary
Researchers identified and quantified microplastics in the digestive tracts of mackerel from the Tual City fish market in Indonesia using microscopy and FTIR analysis, confirming the presence of multiple polymer types in commercially sold fish.
This study aimed to identify and quantify microplastics in mackerel obtained from the Tual City fish market. A total of 15 mackerel samples were used. Microplastic content examination in the digestive tract was conducted microscopically at the Microbiology Laboratory of the Tual State Fisheries Polytechnic, while polymer type identification using the FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared) test was conducted at the BRIN Ambon Optical Laboratory. The results of the study showed that the form of microplastics found in the organs of mackerel fish was successfully observed through microscopic analysis of the research samples. Of the 15 fish analyzed, all showed the presence of microplastic particles, with one dominant form, namely fiber. These microplastics were found in the gills and digestive tract, with particle sizes varying between organs. The concentration of fiber-type microplastics was detected higher in the gills compared to the digestive tract, indicating differences in exposure mechanisms in the two organs. Furthermore, the results of FTIR analysis confirmed that the microplastic particles had functional groups typical of polyamide (nylon) polymers, both in the gill samples and the digestive tract of mackerel fish.