Sains Malaysiana 49(7)(2020): 1479 - 1490

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2020-4907-01

 

Microplastic Abundance, Distribution, and Composition in Sungai Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia

(Kelimpahan, Taburan dan Komposisi Mikroplastik dalam Sungai Dungun, Terengganu, Malaysia)

 

TEE YANG HWI, YUSOF SHUAIB IBRAHIM & WAN MOHD AFIQ WAN MOHD KHALIK*

 

Microplastic Research Interest Group, Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030, Kuala Nerus, Terengganu Darul Iman, Malaysia

 

Received: 16 January 2020/Accepted: 24 March 2020

 

ABSTRACT

Scientific documentation on (Microplastics) MPs abundance in Malaysian waters is still limited and not fully understood. In this study, MPs occurrence in Sungai Dungun, Terengganu, Peninsular Malaysia was analysed. Sampling method was based on sieving 200 µm of bulk water to collect surface water samples from five sites in the vicinity of potential source for MP abundance. Characterisation of MPs was accomplished by gravimetric and digital image processing (for quantification and morphology categorisation), and chemical composition identified by attenuated total reflectance-Fourier infrared spectroscopy. The range concentration of MPs was 22.8 to 300.8 items/m³ (mean 102.8 item/m³). It was recorded that most of the MPs found were black and transparent. The most frequent morphotypes were fibres, followed by fragments. Polypropylene (C₃H₆)n, polyacrylonitrile (C₃H₃N)n and rayon were the dominant polymer-types of MPs analysed in this work. Metals (Pb < As < Mn < Zn < Cu < Fe < Al) found within the MPs reported varied in terms of µg/mL. This study provided new insights into the understanding of MP levels in inland Malaysian freshwater environments.

Keywords: Freshwater; microplastics; surface water

 

ABSTRAK

Dokumentasi saintifik bagi kelimpahan MPs (mikroplastik) dalam persekitaran air di Malaysia masih terhad dan kurang difahami. Dalam kajian ini, kemunculan MPs di dalam Sungai Dungun, Terengganu, Semenanjung Malaysia telah dianalisis. Kaedah pensampelan berasaskan saringan air secara pukal dengan penapis 200 µm telah dilaksanakan dengan mengumpulkan sampel permukaan air dari lima lokasi yang berhampiran dengan titik sumber kelimpahan MPs. Pencirian MPs dilakukan secara gravimetri dan pemprosesan imej digital (bagi pengkuantitian dan pengelasan morfologi) dan komposisi kimia dikenal pasti melalui spektroskopi inframerah transformasi Fourier-pantulan penuh yang kecil. Julat kepekatan MPs ialah daripada 22.8 kepada 300.8 items/m³. MPs paling kerap dijumpai berwarna hitam dan lutsinar. Jenis morfotip daripada kelas gentian adalah yang paling kerap dijumpai, diikuti oleh serpihan. Polipropilena (C₃H₆)n, poliarilonitril (C₃H₃N)n dan rayon adalah polimer utama MPs yang dianalisis dalam kajian ini. Logam (Pb < As < Mn < Zn < Cu < Fe < Al) daripada MP dilaporkan mempunyai variasi kepekatan pada julat µg/mL.Kajian ini telah memberi dimensi baru dalam memahami aras kelimpahan MPs di dalam persekitaran air tawar di Malaysia.

Kata kunci: Air permukaan; air tawar; mikroplastik

 

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*Corresponding author; email: wan.afiq@umt.edu.my