The occurrence and abundance of microplastics in surface water of the midstream and downstream of the Cisadane River, Indonesia

This study investigates microplastic contamination in the midstream to downstream of the Cisadane River and its confluence with the Java Sea. The abundance ranged between 13.33 and 113.33 particles mxe213; 3 in surface water samples. Microplastic abundance in the downstream area was higher than midstream. We discovered 11 microplastic polymer types, with polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene dominating (>70%) the chemical composition study result, which we hypothesized was owing to their ubiquitous use in daily household and industrial activities. Microplastic fragments with a diameter of 500-1000 m predominated in surface water samples. This study identifies possible microplastics pollution hotspots throughout the Cisadane rivers and selects sites that require additional sampling. Runoff from cities and landfills has the potential to have a significant impact on the accumulation and movement of microplastics from the inland to the Cisadane estuarine area. Additional research is necessary to determine how and where these microplastics particles enter rivers.

Automated summary

This study investigates microplastic contamination in the midstream to downstream of the Cisadane River and its confluence with the Java Sea. The abundance of microplastics was found to be higher in the downstream area compared to the midstream. The dominant types of microplastic polymers identified were polyethylene, polystyrene, and polypropylene. Microplastic fragments with diameters ranging from 500 to 1000 micrometers were prevalent in surface water samples. This study highlights possible microplastic pollution hotspots in the Cisadane rivers and identifies locations for additional sampling. Urban runoff and landfill discharge have a significant impact on the accumulation and movement of microplastics from the inland to the Cisadane estuarine area. Further research is needed to determine the sources and pathways of these microplastic particles entering rivers.