Microplastics in digestive tracts of fishes from Jakarta Bay

Abstract

Microplastics are small plastic particles less than five millimeters in size. Microplastic is dangerous because it becomes a medium for other pollutants such as heavy metals and harmful bacteria to attach on. This study aims to determine the presence of microplastic in the digestive tracts of fishes in Jakarta Bay. The number of fish samples obtained was 25 fishes consisting of several species, namely, Siganus sp., Albula forsteri, Lutjanus sp., Parastromateus sp., Plicofollis argyropleuron, Pampus argenteus, Paraplotosus albilabris, Sardinella fimbriata, and Platycephalus indicus. The samples were grouped into three categories based on the length of their body, namely small fish with a length of 13-24 cm, medium fish 25-36 cm, and large fish 37-90 cm. The method used to identify microplastics in the fishes digestive tract is optical microscopy. Microplastics were found in 19 fish (76%), those identified as fiber is 73%, identified as films is 18%, and identified as fragment 9%. The larger the size of fish the higher the microplastic content of all types. This implies that microplastic bioaccumulation occurs through the food chain.

Characteristics of microplastics in Dusky-tailed cardinalfish (Taeniamia macroptera) from natural reef and Fish Apartment in Pasir Putih Situbondo, East Java, Indonesia

“…The FA made of PP and HDPE plastic that undergoes fragmentation into microplastics can transfer fine particles into the food web, distributing microplastics from lower to higher trophic level organisms. This process can lead to human exposure when consuming these fish, bringing microplastics into their bodies [11].…”

Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in the beach sediment of Anday Beach, West Papua (Indonesia)

“…These small particles are available to be ingested by various organisms. The marine mammals such as whales, dolphins and seals [9], sea turtles [10], marine birds [11], crustaceans [12][13]; fish [14][15][16][17][18]; sea cucumber [19][20]; bivalves [21][22][23]; plankton [24][25][26] have been reported to be affected by microplastic debris.…”