Kontaminasi Mikroplastik pada Nekton Hasil Tangkapan di Danau Toba

Abstract

Microplastics are pollutants that are commonly found in waters, including Lake Toba. This study aims to analyze microplastic contamination in captured nekton and compare its content based on fish species and season. Samples were taken from 21 stations in Lake Toba during the dry and rainy seasons. Microplastic identification was done by stereo microscopy. The results showed that all biota samples contained microplastics, with the dominant type being fragments, followed by fiber, pellets, foam, and film. The size of microplastics ranged from 0-5000 µm, with a dominance of 1000-2000 µm. The most common colors found were black, brown, red, white, green, and blue. The abundance of microplastics was higher in intestinal organs than meat tissues. During the dry season, Lohan fish (Amphilophus labiatus) had the highest abundance of microplastics with 565.17 particles/gram in the gut and 497.94 particles/gram in the meat tissue, while Cork fish (Channa striata) had the lowest with 4.62 particles/gram. In the wet season, Lobster (Cherax quadricarinatus) had the highest abundance in the gut (246.15 particles/gram), while Goldfish (Cyprinus carpio) had the lowest (0.57 particles/gram). The results of this study indicate high microplastic contamination of Lake Toba biota. Therefore, mitigation measures such as more effective plastic waste management and increased public awareness of the dangers of microplastics in the aquatic environment are needed.