Identification of microplastic types in the Martapura River's water, sediment, and fish using FTIR (Case Study: Loktangga Village and Teluk Muara Kelayan) South Kalimantan

Abstract

Microplastics are fragments of plastic less than 5 mm in size, produced either by the breakdown of plastic waste or by using tiny pieces of plastic. The study aimed to classify the different kinds of microplastics found in the Martapura River's water, sediment, and fish. Sedgewick rafter and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used for this study. This study's findings suggest a dissimilar distribution of microplastics between the two villages of Loktangga and Teluk Muara Kelayan. Nylon was found to be the most common type of microplastic in Lok Tangga Village. Meanwhile, polystyrene and polycarbonate were found to be the most common types of microplastics in Teluk Muara Kelayan. The dispersed nature of the microplastic pollution point to distinct regional origins or unique transport and deposition mechanisms. Knowing the specific types of microplastics found in a given area helps determine where they came from and develop effective solutions. More studies may be needed to pinpoint the precise causes and assess their effects on aquatic life and human health.