Assessment of Microplastic Pollution in Surface Water within a Densely Populated Area of the Kranji River Basin in Purwokerto, Indonesia

Microplastic pollution is defined as the synthesis of organic polymers with a diameter of less than 5 mm. This form of pollution has become a significant environmental issue in recent years due to its widespread and continuous contamination of the environment. The present study utilised a descriptive method and employed an ecological study approach for the purpose of investigating instances of microplastic pollution in river basins. The investigation focused on the identification of microplastic pollution in surface water, with a particular emphasis on the Kranji River. The mean microplastic concentration in the Kranji River basin was found to be 1.14 ± 0.87 particles per litre. The microplastics identified in this study were fibres, fragments and films, with an average diameter of 0.317 mm, and were predominantly black in colour. The identification of microplastic polymer revealed the presence of polyethylene (PE), and the calculation of the pollution load index (PLI) yielded a result of less than 1. Furthermore, the calculation of the Polymer Hazard Index (PHI) indicated a category of 1 or medium risk. The presence of microplastics has been detected in the Kranji River basin, a region characterised by high population density.