Characteristics and pollution load index of microplastics in surface coastal waters of Makassar, Indonesia

Abstract

Microplastic pollution in coastal environments has emerged as an environmental concern due to its persistence, widespread distribution, and potential ecological risks.This study aimed to quantify microplastic abundance, characterize its physical properties (shape, color, and size), and assess the pollution levels in the coastal waters of Makassar, Indonesia, using the pollution load index (PLI).Water samples were collected from six coastal stations (Barombong, Pelabuhan Soekarno-Hatta, Paotere, Tallo, Tanjung, and Untia) with three replicates per station, yielding 18 sampling points.Microplastics were isolated through vacuum filtration and identified under a stereomicroscope.Statistical analyses included Shapiro-Wilk, Levene's test, Kruskal-Wallis, Pearson correlation, Spearman correlation, and non-metric multidimensional scaling (NMDS).Microplastics were detected at all stations, with median abundances ranging from 23.33 to 76.67 particles/L.Pelabuhan Soekarno-Hatta recorded the highest maximum concentration (326.67 particles/L), reflecting strong anthropogenic influence.No significant differences in abundance were observed among stations (Kruskal-Wallis, p = 0.4877).Fiber-shaped microplastics dominated the samples (96.79%), followed by fragments and films.Blue was the most common color, while particles measuring 0.1-1.0mm constituted the dominant size class (64.24%).NMDS analysis revealed spatial variation in microplastic characteristics among sampling locations.The stations with higher microplastic abundance generally exhibited higher PLI values because the index was derived from abundance-based contamination factors.Therefore, PLI was used as an integrated indicator of contamination rather than an independent variable.These findings demonstrate the influence of anthropogenic activities on microplastic distribution and provide a baseline for future coastal pollution monitoring and management in Makassar.

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