Understanding microplastic pollution in Indonesian surface waters: Insights from bibliometric mapping and systematic literature review

Abstract

Microplastic pollution has emerged as a critical issue in aquatic environments, with rivers serving as major transport routes from terrestrial sources. Although global bibliometric evidence suggests a research imbalance favoring marine systems over freshwater environments, there has been no national-level synthesis specifically examining river microplastic research in Indonesia—an archipelagic nation characterized by high population density, rapid urbanization, and persistent waste management challenges. This study presents the first bibliometric analysis focused exclusively on microplastics in surface waters of Indonesian rivers. Bibliographic data covering 2004–2024 were retrieved from Scopus, PubMed, and Open Alex using targeted keywords (“microplastics”, “surface waters”, “rivers”, “Indonesia”). Of the 65 records initially identified, 21 peer-reviewed journal articles met strict inclusion criteria limited to original research on river systems. The selected dataset was analyzed using VOSviewer to evaluate publication trends, co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence, and citation structure. The 25 selected articles for bibliometric mapping were published between 2020 to 2024, with only one from 2004 to 2019, representing a 2400% increase in publications since 2019, indicating that systematic investigations of microplastics in Indonesian rivers are a relatively recent development. Research findings are institutionally concentrated, with domestic collaborations predominating and international connections limited. Keyword co-occurrence analysis identified “microplastics”, “rivers”, and “Indonesia” as central nodes, with thematic clustering around occurrence, abundance, polymer characterization, and anthropogenic sources. Polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) dominate, but quantitative data on microplastics in Indonesian rivers is still limited. Empirical studies are geographically concentrated in a limited number of rivers, including the Citarum, Mahakam, BKT Canal, Tallo, and Pekalongan. The field remains emphasizing distribution patterns of microplastics rather than ecological risks, human health implications, or mitigation strategies. These findings highlight the need for methodological standardization, broader geographic representation, stronger interdisciplinary integration, and expanded international collaboration to support policy-relevant microplastic management in Indonesian river systems.

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