Spatiotemporal macro debris and microplastic variations linked to domestic waste and textile industry in the supercritical Citarum River, Indonesia. (February 2022) - Cordova, Muhammad Reza
Abstract: Rivers are the key conduits for land-to-sea debris transport. We present in situ monitoring data of macro debris and microplastic along the supercritical Citarum River in Indonesia We identified the dams as concentrated areas of microplastic. Plastics accounted for 85% of the riverine debris (5369 ± 2320 items or 0.92 ± 0.40 tons daily). We estimated macrodebris releases of 6043 ± 567 items or 1.01 ± 0.19 tons daily with a microplastic concentration of 3.35 ± 0.54 particles per m 3 from Citarum River to sea. It has been suggested that population density and urbanization rate are major factors determining the spatiotemporal variability of macrodebris and microplastic abundances in the Citarum River. Our research highlights the importance of long-term monitoring to estimate debris and microplastics inflows along the Indonesian river to the world ocean as a benchmark for the reduction of macro and microdebris into the environment. Highlights: Plastic was the most major form of debris in the Citarum River. Midstream Citarum River has an elevated level of macro debris and microplastics. Estimated daily macrodebris releases to the sea 6043 ± 567 items (1.01 ± 0.19 tons). Daily microplastic release of 3.35 ± 0.54 particles per m 3 from Citarum River to sea. Polyesters were dominant than the other 14 types of identified synthetic polymer.