ECOLOGICAL RISK ANALYSIS OF MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN SEDIMENTS AND FRESHWATER GASTROPODS MELANOIDES TUBERCULATA (MÜLLER, 1774) OF THE CITARUM RIVER DOWNSTREAM AREA

• Main Author: Rifal Khozin Azhary R, M
• Format: Theses
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Teknik saniter dan perkotaan; teknik perlindungan lingkungan
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86665
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Microplastics of due to their small size are highly bioavailable and can be ingested by aquatic organisms such as gastropods, leading to toxic effects and bioaccumulation within the food chain. Microplastics vary in polymer type and toxicity, making risk assessment essential for understanding their potential threats to aquatic ecosystems. To date, ecological risk assessments of microplastic contamination in the downstream Citarum River have not been reported. This study aims to assess the ecological risks of microplastic pollution in the downstream Citarum River. Sediment samples were extracted to determine microplastic concentration and analyzed for polymer type using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy as a basis for ecological risk calculations. Risk assessment utilized the polymer hazard index (PHI), pollution load index (PLI), and potential ecological risk index (PERI). The average microplastic concentration in downstream Citarum sediment was 63.37 ± 33.06 MP particles per 100 g of sediment, higher than upstream, midstream, and estuary sites, with Location 3 showing the highest concentration at 104 ± 7.3 MP particles per 100 g. Small-sized microplastics (57%) dominated, primarily fibers (70%) in red (30%) and blue (27%). Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE) and Polyester (PES) were identified polymers. Ecological risk analysis indicated hazardous levels, with PHI ranging from 7.7 (Category I) to 11.6 (Category II), PLI from 258.8 (Category IV) to 1144 (Category IV), and PERI from 453 (High) to 6362 (Very Hazardous). Average microplastic concentration in Melanoides tuberculata tissue was 3,47 ± 1,75 MP particles/g wet weight or 0,738 ± 0,14 MP particles per individual, significantly correlating with sediment (r=0.95), water (r=0.92), and PERI (r=0.98) (p<0.05).