Analysis of types, forms and abundance of microplastics in the mangrove forest area of pusong island, langsa city

¹ Master's Study Program in Integrated Coastal Resources Management, Universitas Syiah Kuala
² Marine Science Study Program, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries Science, Universitas Syiah Kuala
³ Center for Environmental and Natural Resources Research, Universitas Syiah Kuala
⁴ Geographic Information Systems Laboratory, Faculty of Marine and Fisheries Science, Universitas Syiah Kuala
⁵ Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Syiah Kuala

^* Corresponding author: irham@usk.ac.id

Abstract

Pollution of mangrove waters by microplastic particles is coastal plastic waste pollution which has become a major water pollution problem in developing countries. However, this pollution problem, both qualitatively and quantitatively, has not yet been discussed comprehensively. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the level of microplastic presence and identify the types of microplastics of each size found in the water in the mangrove forest area of Langsa City-Aceh. The aim of this research is to analyse the presence, shape and dominance of microplastic particles in the mangrove waters of Langsa City. The research method was carried out by taking water and river sediment samples based on SNI 03-7016-2004 and the samples were the result of a combination of places (integrated samples). Separation of microplastics is carried out by filtering, destroying organic compounds, separating based on specific gravity and filtering using vacuum. Identification of the type, shape and abundance of microplastics is carried out using a microscope. The analysis results show that microplastics in water are generally of the fragment and fibre type with a density of between 7 - 13 particles per Liter with an average size of 200 µm.