Ingestion of microplastics by anchovies from Talisayan harbor, East Kalimantan, Indonesia

Abstract Microplastics (MPs) is the most contamination problem on the marine environment now, therefore a small pelagic fish like anchovies, can feed accidentally the microplastic. This research focused on the amount of abundance of microplastics in the anchovies. We measured the length and dry weight of the anchovies and isolated their digestive tracts. The digestive tracts were then digested with NaOH and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) technical grade. The microplastics had observed with the using microscope and confirmed with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Here, the investigation result from anchovies digestive tract ( Stolephorus spp.) sampled ( n = 15). The total microplastics contamination from Talisayan harbor, East Kalimantan is 366 ± 3. 51 particles/individual. Kind of microplastics size range detected as categories: < 20 µm, 20 -50 µm, 50 -500 µm, 500 -1000 µm, and >1000 µm. Most of microplastics shapes from Talisayan harbor are microfilm (50%) and microfiber (29.59%). The type of polymers are confirmed by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as polypropylene, high-density polyethylene and foamed polystyrene nylon. Our findings reported that specific size range (50-500 µm) is the most majority of microplastics size range which are ingested by anchovies from Talisayan harbor. The microplastics are more dangerous if another contamination found together on it. On this investigation, the mercury contamination also tested and the result showed as not detected mercury contaminant. The anchovies are had the economic value and also small pelagic fish which are play as prey for the other big fish. The exposure are possible to the human by contaminated seafood diet.