We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Beach macro-litter monitoring and floating microplastic in a coastal area of Indonesia
Summary
Researchers surveyed floating microplastic and beach litter in Cilacap Bay, Indonesia over three years, finding polypropylene and low-density polyethylene dominated plastic debris at 2.5 mg/m concentration, with most particles showing only slight weathering — highlighting persistent pollution from inadequate waste management in the region.
Qualitative analysis of the structures of the polymers composing floating plastic debris was performed using attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR), and the aging of the debris was assessed by measuring carbonyl group formation on the particle surfaces. Plastic material made up >75% of the 2313 items collected during a three-year survey. The size, shape and color of the microplastic were correlated with the polymer structure. The most abundant plastic materials were polypropylene (68%) and low-density polyethylene (11%), and the predominant colors of the plastics were white, blue and green. Cilacap Bay, Indonesia, was contaminated with microplastic at a concentration of 2.5mg·m. The carbonyl index demonstrated that most of the floating microplastic was only slightly degraded. This study highlights the need to raise environmental awareness through citizen science education and adopting good environmental practices.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
The contribution of estuaries to the abundance of microplastics in Jakarta Bay, Indonesia
Researchers found that rivers draining into Jakarta Bay are a major source of microplastics, with polyethylene fragments in the 300-500 micrometer size range dominating, and that spatial variation in abundance across nine estuaries reflects differences in local land use and waste management.
The abundance of Plastic Marine Debris on Beaches in Ambon Bay
Researchers measured plastic marine debris — including large microplastics, mesoplastics, and macroplastics — on two beaches in Ambon Bay, Indonesia. The study provides baseline data on plastic pollution levels in a region with growing coastal populations and limited plastic waste management infrastructure.
Microplastic Pollution in Indonesia: The Contribution of Human Activity to the Abundance of Microplastics
This systematic review of Indonesian microplastic research found that coastal and marine sediments have the highest microplastic abundances, driven by widespread use of cheap single-use plastics and poor waste management across urban and rural areas.
Spatial Distribution and Quantification of Microplastic Contamination in Sediments of Kaliratu Coastal Waters, Kebumen, Indonesia
Researchers found microplastics in sediments along Kaliratu Beach in Indonesia at concentrations of 25–57.5 particles/kg, with fibres, fragments, films, and pellets all present, and used hydrodynamic modelling to trace how seasonal monsoon currents distribute them along the coastline. The findings highlight that even relatively remote Indonesian coastal areas near shrimp ponds and other anthropogenic activity are accumulating measurable plastic pollution.
Identification of Microplastic Abundance in Indonesia's Coastal Regions: A Review
This review assessed microplastic abundance across Indonesia's coastal regions, synthesizing studies from rivers, seas, and lakes to document the extent of MP pollution in this archipelago nation with high plastic waste generation and limited waste management infrastructure.