Microplastic concentration in column seawater compartment in Burau, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia

Abstract Microplastics are very persistent particle and found to float in the waters due to it’s low density. Anthropogenic activities greatly affect the presence and contamination of microplastics in waters, including Burau Seawater, Luwu Timur Regency, South Sulawesi. This study aims to analyze the composition and concentration of microplastics in the water column of Burau Sea, Luwu Regency, South Sulawesi. The station was determined based on the purposive sampling method. Sampling was performed by using a neuston net. There were four stations for collecting microplastic samples. Laboratory analysis was carried out by mixing the sample with 30% H 2 O 2 and left at room temperature for 24 hours. Sample water was filtered by membranouse filter paper. Identification of microplastics using a stereo microscope with a 40× magnification. The results showed there were 810 items of microplastics in the form of fragments, films, fibers and granules with the dominant form of microplastics is fragment. The microplastic colors found were transparent, blue, red, white, green, brown and black with the dominant color being transparent. The microplastic sizes found ranged from 0.01 to 5 mm. The most common sizes are 0.1-1 mm. The average concentration of microplastics was 56.2 items/m 3 . There is no significant difference in the concentration of microplastics between stations (P value >0.05), which means the distribution of microplastics in the water column at Burau Sea is evenly distributed.