Analysis of Microplastic Abundance in Sediments of Lake Limboto
Abstract
Microplastics are a form of environmental pollution that can accumulate in aquatic sediments and impact ecosystem quality. Lake Limboto is a significant aquatic ecosystem in Gorontalo Province currently facing various environmental issues, including pollution and waste accumulation. This study aimed to analyse microplastic abundance in sediments at several locations in Lake Limboto and to determine differences in abundance based on environmental characteristics and human activities near the sampling sites. We sampled four locations: an area far from settlements, Pentadio Barat Village, an area near settlements, and an area near a waste disposal site. Sediment samples were collected approximately 5 m from the lake edge at a depth of 50 cm using a shovel. The samples were oven-dried at 110°C for 24 hours, pulverised, and then sieved using a 250-mesh sieve. A 15 g portion of sediment from each location was mixed with 50 mL of saturated NaCl solution, left to stand for 24 hours, and then filtered through Whatman No. 42 filter paper using vacuum filtration. Microplastics trapped on the filter paper were subsequently examined under a microscope. The results showed the highest microplastic abundance near the waste disposal site (333.3 particles/kg), while the lowest abundance was in Pentadio Barat Village (66.66 particles/kg). Locations near settlements had an abundance of 266.6 particles/kg, whereas locations far from settlements had 200 particles/kg.
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References
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