MONITORING SUSPENDED MICROPLASTIC PARTICLES IN THE AIR USING HOT NEEDLE TEST AND EXTRACTION METHODS

• Main Author: Jaya Saputra, Gradi
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/84353
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Microplastics are pollutants that are increasingly gaining attention due to their negative impacts on the environment and human health. This study was conducted at ITB to characterize microplastics in the air. The research aimed to observe the presence of microplastic particles in the air using the hot needle test method and the extraction method. The methods were tested on the same filter, which was then cut into smaller filter pieces to be analyzed by both methods. The results showed that suspended microplastic particles were detected at the specified locations with varying concentrations. The average number of suspected microplastic particles reached 2,958 particles in the hot needle test method and 2,971 particles in the extraction method. The average number of microplastic particles in the hot needle test was 57.95 particles, while in the extraction method, it was 534.72 particles. The percentage of microplastic particles from the total suspected particles reached 2% for the hot needle test and 18% for the extraction method. It can be concluded that the extraction method is more effective and efficient for monitoring suspended microplastic particles in the air, assuming that all detected particles after extraction are microplastics. The extraction method allows for better separation and concentration of particles with higher accuracy compared to the hot needle test method and can be better implemented on a larger scale for further studies and the development of microplastic pollution control policies.