ANALYSIS OF THE ABUNDANCE, SHAPE, AND COLOR OF SEDIMENT MICROPLASTICS IN THE PANGKAJENE RIVER PANGKEP AND ISLANDS DISTRICT
Plastics that are samller than 5 mm are called nicroplastics. This research was conducted on the Pangkajene River, Pangkep and Islands Regencies in November 2022. This study aimed to analyze the abundance, shape and color of microplastics in the Pangkajene River. The samples taken were river sediment samples which were divided into 8 sample points. The sediment sampling method is based on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and Microplastic in Water. The sample is the result of a combination of places (integrated samples). Each sample was dried, weighing dry weight, density separation and sorting visually using a microscope. The results showed that the abundance value of microplastics at this location was in the range of 2.59 – 5.37 particles/100 g dry weight of sediment. The highest abundance value at this location is at sample point 5, this location is close to markets, people's homes, and tourist attractions. The lowest abundance value is at sample point 8 which is adjacent to the location of plantations and agriculture. The type of microplastic based on the shape found is in the form of fibers, fragments and films that have several colors such as red, yellow, blue.
Microplastics, Abundance, Sediments, Forms of microplastics, Rivers