| dc.description.abstract | Microplastic pollution in coastal areas is an increasing environmental
problem due to human activities and poorly managed plastic waste. This study
aims to identify the characteristics of microplastics in sediments in the coastal
areas of Sumatra Island, including their types, colors, sizes, and distributions.
Sampling was carried out at 10 research stations spread across several coastal
locations in Sumatra. Analysis was carried out using the stereo microscope
method and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FT-IR) test to identify the
types of microplastic polymers. The results showed that microplastics were found
in all locations with the dominant types being fragments, followed by films, fibers,
pelets, and foams. The most common microplastic colors found were black, red,
and white, while the dominant microplastic sizes ranged from 1000-2000 µm. The
FT-IR test results revealed that the dominant polymer types were Polyvinyl
Chloride (PVC), Polyethylene (PE), Polypropylene (PP), and Nylon. Spatial
distribution showed that the highest abundance of microplastics was in Belawan
and Tanjung Balai, which was most likely caused by port and fisheries activities
in the area. | en_US |
