Microplastic in Water and Sediment from the Middle Segment of Karang Mumus River, Samarinda City, East Kalimantan

Abstract

The increasing use of plastic causes an increase in plastic waste in the environment, especially waters. Plastic waste that enters the waters will then be degraded into polymers less than 5 mm called as microplastics.  The purpose of this study was to determine the content of microplastics in water and sediment and the relationship between microplastics in water and sediment in the Karang Mumus River in Samarinda City. Sampling was carried out at 3 stations in the Karang Mumus River then sample analysis was carried out at the Water Quality Laboratory of Mulawarman University. Based on the results of the research obtained, the types of microplastics found are fiber, fragments, films and microbeads. The most type of microplastic was found is film. The mean concentration of microplastic in the water was 3,04 particles/L and in the sediment was 1322,22 particles/Kg.