Microplastic contamination in mussels: comparison of two different locations at Makassar Strait Shinta Werorilangi(1-7*), Akbar Tahir(1-7), Ega Adi Wicaksono(4), Muh. Afdal(2), Kuasa Sari(7), Robby Nimzet(7), Wasir Samad(1), Firdaus Firdaus(5), Ramdha Mawadda(6), Sulaiman Gosalam(1), Liestiaty Fachruddin(3), Arniati Massinai(1), and Ahmad Faizal(1-7)
(1) Department of Marine Science, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
(2) Department of Marine Science, Lambung Mangkurat University, Banjarmasin
(3) Department of Fisheries, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
(4) Department of Fisheries, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta
(5) Department of Chemistry, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
(6) Study Program of Environmental Science, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
(7) Marine Plastic Research Group, Universitas Hasanuddin, Makassar
*Corresponding Author: shintawk[at]unhas.ac.id
Abstract
Marine plastic debris, including microplastics (MPs), nowadays is recognized as a serious threat to the global marine environment. As an emerging contaminant in the marine environment, the occurrence of MPs in human consumed seafood is of great importance for examination. For this reason, studies on the occurrence of MPs in mussels were collected from two locations at Makassar Strait with different oceanographic conditions were conducted. Three species of commonly consumed mussels Perna viridis, Meretrix meretrix and Mactra chinensis with total of 170 individuals were observed for MPs contamination. Results showed that MPs ingestion in P. viridis and M. chinensis from Sanrobengi Islands were significantly higher than P. viridis and M. meretrix collected from Mandalle coastal area. Microfibers with blue colors were predominant MPs forms detected. With level of MPs contamination between 58-100%, mussels themselves were threatened for their wellbeing and posing potential health risks to seafood consumers. Lastly, polystyrene as dominant polymer examined with FTIR analysis.
Keywords: mussel, microplastics, Sanrobengi, Mandalle, South Sulawesi.
Topic: Aquatic Pollution and Ecotoxicology (International)
