Publications

Microplastic research in urban and industrial areas, including remote areas, has been conducted recently. However, there is still a lack of research about microplastic abundances in slum areas. Ciwalengke River is located in Majalaya, Indonesia, which is dominated by slum and industrial areas that probably generate microplastics. This research was conducted to investigate the distribution of microplastic around the slum area for the first time. Surface water and sediment samples of the river were obtained at ten locations and grouped into six segments based on different land use at the riverbank. Microplastic particles were identified using a binocular microscope and categorised by shape and size. The average microplastic concentrations were 5.85 ± 3.28 particles per litre of surface water and 3.03 ± 1.59 microplastic particles per 100 g of dry sediments. Microplastic concentrations in the sediment samples were found to have significant differences in location segment (Kruskal-Wallis test, p-value = 0.01165 < 0.05), but no significant differences were identified in the water samples (Kruskal-Wallis test; p-value = 0.654 > 0.05). In addition, microplastic distribution was dominated by fiber particles. More fiber shape might be derived from the direct clothing of residents in the river and fabric washing process in the textile industries. This was also revealed by Raman spectroscopy tests of several microplastic particles, indicating that the types of microplastics were polyester and nylon.