Microplastics Rise In Estuaries To Jakarta Bay During The Pandemic

Illustration - The Nusantara River Expeditionary Team (ESN) shows river water containing microplastic using a microscope in the Ujung Pancu area, Aceh Besar, Aceh, Thursday (2/6/2022). BETWEEN PHOTOS / Irwansyah Putra/rwa

JAKARTA - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) said that there was an increase in microplastic in the form of threads from personal protective equipment (PPE) at river mouths towards Jakarta Bay during the COVID-19 pandemic.

"The abundance of microplastics was found in the range of 4.29 to 23.49 microplastic particles per 1,000 liters of river water with an average of 9.02 particles per 1,000 liters of river water moving towards the waters of Jakarta Bay," said researcher at the Oceanographic Research Center BRIN M Reza. Cordova in a written statement reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, August 3.

The microscopic size plastic waste (microplastic) in the form of threads originating from the PPE is indicated to have the same original form and type of chemical composition as medical masks.

The proportion of these microplastics increased 10-fold in December 2020, compared to only around 3 percent before the discovery of the first COVID-19 case in Indonesia.

The results of collaborative research by BRIN researchers coordinated by Reza, with the Open University, the University of North Sumatra, IPB University and the University of Portsmouth in the UK concluded that there was a significant increase in microplastics, especially during high rainfall.

The research on monitoring microplastics at the river estuary noted a higher abundance in the east coast of Jakarta Bay compared to the west coast.

Of the nine river mouths studied in the Jakarta, Bogor, Depok, Tangerang and Bekasi (Jabodetabek) areas, microplastics were found in all studied river mouths.

According to Reza, the highest addition of microplastics was found in the rainy season with an average of 9.02 particles per 1,000 liters of river water, while the lowest was found in the dry season at 8.01 particles per 1,000 liters of river water.

The Oceanographic Research Center released the results of monitoring microplastics during the pandemic in the journal Marine Pollution Bulletin entitled "Seasonal heterogeneity and a link to precipitation in the release of microplastic during COVID-19 outbreak from the Greater Jakarta area to Jakarta Bay, Indonesia".

Reza and his team hope that increasing the concentration of microplastics in the environment will encourage improvements in single-use waste management.

He said the implementation of strict regulations, socialization and public understanding were needed to promote correct disposal methods and systemic changes in the management of plastic waste, especially single-use plastics.

The community is also invited to take part in maintaining environmental health, especially related to the disposal of PPE waste, namely mask waste that is commonly used by the community every day.