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

 

Diserahkan: 16 Januari 2020/Diterima: 24 Mac 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

 

RUJUKAN

Amin, R.M., Sohaimi, E.S., Anuar, S.T. & Bachok, Z. 2020. Microplastic ingestion by zooplankton in Terengganu coastal waters, southern South China Sea. Marine Pollution Bulletin 150: 110616.

Aspin, S.A. 2017. Determination of selected metals in sediment from Besut and Dungun river. Dissertation Dr. Phil, Universiti Malaysia Kelantan, Malaysia (Unpublished).

Brennecke, D., Duarte, B., Paiva, F., Caçador, I. & Canning-Clode, J. 2016. Microplastics as vector for heavy metal contamination from the marine environment. Estuarine, Coastal and Shelf Science 178: 189-195.

Cai, H., Du, F., Li, L., Li, B., Li, J. & Shi, H. 2019. A practical approach based on FT-IR spectroscopy for identification of semi-synthetic and natural celluloses in microplastic investigation. Science of The Total Environment 669: 692-701.

Comnea-Stancu, I.R., Wieland, K., Ramer, G., Schwaighofer, A. & Lendl, B. 2017. On the identification of rayon/viscose as a major fraction of microplastics in the marine environment: Discrimination between natural and manmade cellulosic fibers using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Applied Spectroscopy 71(5): 939-950.

Cooper, D.A. & Corcoran, P.L. 2010. Effects of mechanical and chemical processes on the degradation of plastic beach debris on the island of Kauai, Hawaii. Marine Pollution Bulletin 60(5): 650-654.

Courtene-Jones, W., Quinn, B., Gary, S.F., Mogg, A.O. & Narayanaswamy, B.E. 2017. Microplastic pollution identified in deep-sea water and ingested by benthic invertebrates in the Rockall Trough, North Atlantic Ocean. Environmental Pollution 231: 271-280.

Ding, L., fan Mao, R., Guo, X., Yang, X., Zhang, Q. & Yang, C. 2019. Microplastics in surface waters and sediments of the Wei River, in the northwest of China. Science of The Total Environment 667: 427-434.

Dris, R., Imhof, H., Sanchez, W., Gasperi, J., Galgani, F., Tassin, B. & Laforsch, C. 2015. Beyond the ocean: Contamination of freshwater ecosystems with (micro-) plastic particles. Environmental Chemistry 12(5): 539-550.

Dyachenko, A., Mitchell, J. & Arsem, N. 2017. Extraction and identification of microplastic particles from secondary wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent. Analytical Methods 9(9): 1412-1418.

Eerkes-Medrano, D., Thompson, R.C. & Aldridge, D.C. 2015. Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs. Water Research 75: 63-82.

Eo, S., Hong, S.H., Song, Y.K., Han, G.M. & Shim, W.J. 2019. Spatiotemporal distribution and annual load of microplastics in the Nakdong River, South Korea. Water Research 160: 228-237.

Frias, J.P.G.L., Gago, J., Otero, V. & Sobral, P. 2016. Microplastics in coastal sediments from Southern Portuguese shelf waters. Marine Environmental Research 114: 24-30.

Godoy, V., Blázquez, G., Calero, M., Quesada, L. & Martín-Lara, M.A. 2019. The potential of microplastics as carriers of metals. Environmental Pollution 255: 113363.

Hossain, M.R., Jiang, M., Wei, Q. & Leff, L.G. 2019. Microplastic surface properties affect bacterial colonization in freshwater. Journal of Basic Microbiology 59(1): 54-61.

Ibrahim, Y.S., Rathnam, R., Anuar, S.T. & Khalik, W.M.A.W.M. 2017. Isolation and characterisation of microplastic abundance in Lates calcarifer from Setiu Wetlands, Malaysia. Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences 21(5): 1054-1064.

Ibrahim, Y.S., Azmi, A.A., Shukor, S.A., Anuar, S.T. & Abdullah, S.A. 2016. Microplastics ingestion by Scapharca cornea at Setiu Wetland, Terengganu, Malaysia. Middle-East Journal of Scientific Research 24(6): 2129-2136.

Jiang, C., Yin, L., Li, Z., Wen, X., Luo, X., Hu, S. & Liu, Y. 2019. Microplastic pollution in the rivers of the Tibet Plateau. Environmental Pollution 249: 91-98.

Jung, M.R., Horgen, F.D., Orski, S.V., Rodriguez, V., Beers, K.L., Balazs, G.H. & Hyrenbach, K.D. 2018. Validation of ATR FT-IR to identify polymers of plastic marine debris, including those ingested by marine organisms. Marine Pollution Bulletin 127: 704-716.

Karbalaei, S., Golieskardi, A., Hamzah, H.B., Abdulwahid, S., Hanachi, P., Walker, T.R. & Karami, A. 2019. Abundance and characteristics of microplastics in commercial marine fish from Malaysia. Marine Pollution Bulletin 148: 5-15.

Khalik, W.M.A.W.M., Ibrahim, Y.S., Anuar, S.T., Govindasamy, S. & Baharuddin, N.F. 2018. Microplastics analysis in Malaysian marine waters: A field study of Kuala Nerus and Kuantan. Marine Pollution Bulletin 135: 451-457.

Lahens, L., Strady, E., Kieu-Le, T.C., Dris, R., Boukerma, K., Rinnert, E. & Tassin, B. 2018. Macroplastic and microplastic contamination assessment of a tropical river (Saigon River, Vietnam) transversed by a developing megacity. Environmental Pollution 236: 661-671.

Li, J., Liu, H. & Chen, J.P. 2018. Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review on occurrence, environmental effects, and methods for microplastics detection. Water Research 137: 362-374.

Lin, L., Zuo, L.Z., Peng, J.P., Cai, L.Q., Fok, L., Yan, Y. & Xu, X.R. 2018. Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in an urban river: A case study in the Pearl River along Guangzhou City, China. Science of The Total Environment 644: 375-381.

Luo, W., Su, L., Craig, N.J., Du, F., Wu, C. & Shi, H. 2019. Comparison of microplastic pollution in different water bodies from urban creeks to coastal waters. Environmental Pollution 246: 174-182.

Lusher, A.L., McHugh, M. & Thompson, R.C. 2012. Occurrence of microplastics in the gastrointestinal tract of pelagic and demersal fish from the English Channel. Marine Pollution Bulletin 67(1-2): 94-99.

Mendoza, L.M.R. & Balcer, M. 2019. Microplastics in freshwater environments: A review of quantification assessment. Trends in Analytical Chemistry 113: 402-408.

Nie, H., Wang, J., Xu, K., Huang, Y. & Yan, M. 2019. Microplastic pollution in water and fish samples around Nanxun Reef in Nansha Islands, South China Sea. Science of The Total Environment 696: 134022.

Noik, V.J., Tuah, P.M., Seng, L. & Sakari, M. 2015. Fingerprinting and quantification of selected heavy metals in meso-and microplastics sampled from Santubong and Trombol Beach, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. 2nd International Conference on Agriculture, Environment and Biological Sciences. pp. 53-58.

Olivatto, G.P., Martins, M.C.T., Montagner, C.C., Henry, T.B. & Carreira, R.S. 2019. Microplastic contamination in surface waters in Guanabara Bay, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Marine Pollution Bulletin 139: 157-162.

Pan, Z., Guo, H., Chen, H., Wang, S., Sun, X., Zou, Q. & Huang, J. 2019. Microplastics in the Northwestern Pacific: Abundance, distribution, and characteristics. Science of The Total Environment 650: 1913-1922.

Park, T.J., Lee, S.H., Lee, M.S., Lee, J.K., Lee, S.H. & Zoh, K.D. 2019. Occurrence of microplastics in the Han River and riverine fish in South Korea. Science of The Total Environment 708: 134535.

Pegado, T.S.E.S., Schmid, K., Winemiller, K.O., Chelazzi, D., Cincinelli, A., Dei, L. & Giarrizzo, T. 2018. First evidence of microplastic ingestion by fishes from the Amazon River estuary. Marine Pollution Bulletin 133: 814-821.

Pico, Y., Alfarhan, A. & Barcelo, D. 2019. Nano-and microplastic analysis: Focus on their occurrence in freshwater ecosystems and remediation technologies. Trends in Analytical Chemistry 113: 409-425.

Prata, J.C., da Costa, J.P., Duarte, A.C. & Rocha-Santos, T. 2019. Methods for sampling and detection of microplastics in water and sediment: A critical review. Trends in Analytical Chemistry 110: 150-159.

Qu, X., Su, L., Li, H., Liang, M. & Shi, H. 2018. Assessing the relationship between the abundance and properties of microplastics in water and in mussels. Science of The Total Environment 621: 679-686.

Rodrigues, M.O., Abrantes, N., Gonçalves, F.J.M., Nogueira, H., Marques, J.C. & Gonçalves, A.M.M. 2018. Spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics in water and sediments of a freshwater system (Antuã River, Portugal). Science of The Total Environment 633: 1549-1559.

Rose, D. & Webber, M. 2019. Characterization of microplastics in the surface waters of Kingston Harbour. Science of The Total Environment 664: 753-760.

Sarijan, S., Azman, S., Said, M.I.M., Andu, Y. & Zon, N.F. 2018. Microplastics in sediment from Skudai and TebrauRiver, Malaysia: A preliminary study. MATEC Web of Conferences 250: 06012.

Suratman, S. 2013. Distribution of total petrogenic hydrocarbon in Dungun River basin, Malaysia. Oriental Journal of Chemistry 29(1): 77.

Suratman, S., Tahir, N.M. & Amin, M.S.M. 2008. A preliminary study on the behaviour of physical parameters and phosphate-based nutrients in Dungun River estuary, Terengganu. Sains Malaysiana 37(4): 331-336.

Tahir, N.M., Suratman, S., Shazili, N.A.M., Ariffin, M.M., Amin, M.S.M., Ariff, N.F.M.N.I. & Sulaiman, W.N.H.W. 2008. Behaviour of water quality parameters during ebb tide in Dungun river estuary, Terengganu. Journal of Sustainability Science and Management 3(1): 1-10.

Turner, A. & Holmes, L.A. 2015. Adsorption of trace metals by microplastic pellets in fresh water. Environmental Chemistry 12(5): 600-610.

Vedolin, M.C., Teophilo, C.Y.S., Turra, A. & Figueira, R.C.L. 2018. Spatial variability in the concentrations of metals in beached microplastics. Marine Pollution Bulletin 129(2): 487-493.

Wagner, M., Scherer, C., Alvarez-Muñoz, D., Brennholt, N., Bourrain, X., Buchinger, S. & Rodriguez-Mozaz, S. 2014. Microplastics in freshwater ecosystems: What we know and what we need to know. Environmental Sciences Europe 26(1): 12.

Wang, G., Lu, J., Tong, Y., Liu, Z., Zhou, H. & Xiayihazi, N. 2019. Occurrence and pollution characteristics of microplastics in surface water of the Manas River Basin, China. Science of the Total Environment 710: 136099.

Wang, W., Yuan, W., Chen, Y. & Wang, J. 2018. Microplastics in surface waters of Dongting Lake and Hong Lake, China. Science of The Total Environment 633: 539-545.

Wang, W., Ndungu, A.W., Li, Z. & Wang, J. 2017. Microplastics pollution in inland freshwaters of China: A case study in urban surface waters of Wuhan, China. Science of The Total Environment 575: 1369-1374.

Zhang, D., Cui, Y., Zhou, H., Jin, C., Yu, X., Xu, Y. & Zhang, C. 2020a. Microplastic pollution in water, sediment, and fish from artificial reefs around the Ma’an Archipelago, Shengsi, China. Science of The Total Environment 703: 134768.

Zhang, L., Liu, J., Xie, Y., Zhong, S., Yang, B., Lu, D. & Zhong, Q. 2020b. Distribution of microplastics in surface water and sediments of Qin river in Beibu Gulf, China. Science of The Total Environment 708: 135176.

Zhao, S., Zhu, L., Wang, T. & Li, D. 2014. Suspended microplastics in the surface water of the Yangtze Estuary System, China: First observations on occurrence, distribution. Marine Pollution Bulletin 86(1-2): 562-568.

 

 

*Pengarang untuk surat-menyurat; email: wan.afiq@umt.edu.my