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Sorption of Heavy Metals on Polyethylene Microplastics in Johor River Basin: Implication for Aquatic Pollution and Sustainable Water Management
Summary
Virgin polyethylene microplastics deployed for six months in the Johor River Basin accumulated chromium, cadmium, and zinc, with sorption rates highest at the estuary site and steadily increasing over time under the influence of pH, salinity, and organic matter. These results confirm that microplastics function as mobile carriers of heavy metals in aquatic systems, posing bioaccumulation risks to organisms that ingest contaminated particles.
Abstract This study investigates the sorption capacity of chromium (Cr), cadmium (cd), and zinc (Zn) on polyethylene (PE) microplastics within the Johor River Basin. Virgin PE microplastics were deployed for six months at two locations, a freshwater site in the Sayong River and estuary site at the Kota Tinggi River Mouth. Monthly samples were collected and analysed for metal concentrations using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS). The results showed that metal sorption was significantly higher at the estuary site, with Cr being the most dominant metal, at 2.7 µg/g. Over the duration of the study, metal sorption increased steadily, influenced by environmental factors such as pH, salinity and organic matter. These findings highlight the role of microplastics as effective carriers of heavy metals, which ingested by aquatic organisms, can lead to bioaccumulation, reinforcing the need for comprehensive management strategies to address both microplastics and metal pollution, protecting water resources and ecosystems health for future generations.