Skip to main content
Articles | Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology | Volume 1 - Issue 1 - 2023 | 1-13 | https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v1i1.220
© 2023 by the author(s), and is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) License

Occurrence of Microplastics in Kemena River and Niah River of Sarawak, Malaysia

Author(s): Danny Jau Karing 1 , Milani Anggiani 2 , Linh Thi Thuy Cao 3 , Mohamed El-shaammari 4
Author(s) information:
1 Environmental Engineering Program, Curtin University Malaysia, CDT 250, Miri 98009, Malaysia
2 Research Center for Oceanography, National Research and Innovation Agency, Jakarta, 14430, Indonesia
3 Program of Biotechnology, Graduate School of Integrated Sciences for Life, Hiroshima University, 1-3-1, Kagamiyama, Higashihiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8530, Japan
4 College of Water and Environmental Engineering, Sudan University of Science and Technology, Khartoum, Al-Khartum, Sudan

Corresponding author

Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology

Volume 1 - Issue 1 - 2023

 About the journal
Submit your article

Microplastics in freshwater have been identified as a significant contributor to plastic pollution in marine environments. However, the effect of urbanization on the quantity and spatial dispersion of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems of Sarawak and Malaysia remains unclear. The primary objectives of this study are to investigate the quantity and distribution of microplastics in water and riverbank sediments, as well as to analyze the properties of microplastic particles in the Kemena and Niah rivers. The selection of these rivers was based on the presence of commercial, residential, and industrial areas along their lengths. A total of 24 water and soil sediment samples were collected from three different sites along the Kemena and Niah rivers. The concentration of microplastics in water samples ranged from 60 to 128 items per liter, while sediment samples ranged from 46 to 76 items per liter. The sediment samples also contained microplastics ranging from 21 to 40 and 45 to 125 items per kilogram. Microplastics were observed in various forms, including fibers, films, foam, and fragments, in both water and soil sediment samples. The majority of microplastics were between 0.1 and 1 mm in size, with blue being the most common color observed in river water and transparent in sediment samples. The ATR-FTIR spectrum analysis indicated the presence of four distinct polymers: polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS), polycarbonate (PC), and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). This study provides valuable information on the abundance, distribution, chemical composition, and physical properties of microplastics in the Kemena and Niah rivers.

Read Full-Text
Previous article
Next article

Arossa, S.; Martin, C.; Rossbach, S.; Duarte, C.M. (2021). Microplastics: Small particles, big threat. Frontiers for Young Minds, 9, 608621. https://doi.org/10.3389/frym.2021.608621.

Sánchez, A.; Rodríguez-Viso, P.; Domene, A.; Orozco, H.; Vélez, D.; Devesa, V. (2022). Dietary microplastics: Occurrence, exposure and health implications. Environmental Research, 212, 113150. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2022.113150.

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. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.02.012.

Abuwatfa, W.H.; Al-Muqbel, D.; Al-Othman, A.; Halalsheh, N.; Tawalbeh, M. (2021). Insights into the removal of microplastics from water using biochar in the era of COVID-19: A mini review. Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 4, 100151. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cscee.2021.100151.

Nugnes, R.; Lavorgna, M.; Orlo, E.; Russo, C.; Isidori, M. (2022). Toxic impact of polystyrene microplastic particles in freshwater organisms. Chemosphere, 299, 134373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134373.

Peng, G.; Xu, P.; Zhu, B.; Bai, M.; Li, D. (2018). Microplastics in freshwater river sediments in Shanghai, China: A case study of risk assessment in mega-cities. Environmental Pollution, 234, 448456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2017.11.034.

Gausset, Q. (2002). A short history of birds’ nests management in the Niah Caves (Sarawak). Borneo Research Bulletin, 33, 127140.

Choong, W.S.; Hadibarata, T.; Yuniarto, A.; Tang, K.H.D.; Abdullah, F.; Syafrudin, M.; Al Farraj, D.A.; Al-Mohaimeed, A.M. (2021). Characterization of Microplastics in the Water and Sediment of Baram River Estuary Borneo Island. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 172, 112880. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2021.112880.

Sarijan, S.; Azman, S.; Said, M.I.M.; Andu, Y.; Zon, N.F. (2018). Microplastics in Sediment from Skudai and Tebrau River, Malaysia: A Preliminary Study. MATEC Web of Conferences, 250, 06012. http://doi.org/10.1051/matecconf/201825006012.

Zaki, M.R.M.; Ying, P.X.; Zainuddin, A.H.; Razak, M.R.; Aris, A.Z. (2021). Occurrence, Abundance, and Distribution of Microplastics Pollution: An Evidence in Surface Tropical Water of Klang River Estuary, Malaysia. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 43, 37333748. http://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-021-00872-8.

Dris, R.; Gasperi, J.; Rocher, V.; Tassin, B. (2018). Synthetic and Non-Synthetic Anthropogenic Fibers in a River under the Impact of Paris Megacity: Sampling Methodological Aspects and Flux Estimations. Science of The Total Environment, 618, 157164. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.11.009.

He, B.; Duodu, G.O.; Rintoul, L.; Ayoko, G.A.; Goonetilleke, A. (2020). Influence of Microplastics on Nutrients and Metal Concentrations in River Sediments. Environmental Pollution, 263, 114490. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2020.114490.

Sánchez-Nieva, J.; Perales, J.A.; González-Leal, J.M.; Rojo-Nieto, E. (2017). A New Analytical Technique for the Extraction and Quantification of Microplastics in Marine Sediments Focused on Easy Implementation and Repeatability. Analytical Methods, 9, 63716378. http://doi.org/10.1039/c7ay01800b.

Almas, F.F.; Bezirci, G.; Çağan, A.S.; Gökdağ, K.; Çırak, T.; Kankılıç, G.B.; Paçal, E.; Tavşanoğlu, Ü.N. (2022). Tracking the Microplastic Accumulation from Past to Present in the Freshwater Ecosystems: A Case Study in Susurluk Basin, Turkey. Chemosphere, 303, 135007. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135007.

Vayghan, A.H.; Rasta, M.; Zakeri, M.; Kelly, F.J. (2022). Spatial Distribution of Microplastics Pollution in Sediments and Surface Waters of the Aras River and Reservoir: An International River in Northwestern Iran. Science of The Total Environment, 843, 156894. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.156894.

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. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.03.233.

Duis, K.; Coors, A. (2016). Microplastics in the Aquatic and Terrestrial Environment: Sources (with a Specific Focus on Personal Care Products), Fate and Effects. Environmental Sciences Europe, 28, 125. http://doi.org/10.1186/s12302-015-0069-y.

Corradini, F.; Meza, P.; Eguiluz, R.; Casado, F.; Huerta-Lwanga, E.; Geissen, V. (2019). Evidence of Microplastic Accumulation in Agricultural Soils from Sewage Sludge Disposal. Science of The Total Environment, 671, 411420. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.03.368.

Lim, X.Z. (2021). Microplastics Are Everywhere - but Are They Harmful? Nature, 593, 2225. http://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-021-01143-3.

Pan, Z.; Sun, Y.; Liu, Q.; Lin, C.; Sun, X.; He, Q.; Zhou, K.; Lin, H. (2020). Riverine Microplastic Pollution Matters: A Case Study in the Zhangjiang River of Southeastern China. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 159, 111516. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111516.

Darabi, M.; Majeed, H.; Diehl, A.; Norton, J.; Zhang, Y. (2020). A Review of Microplastics in Aquatic Sediments: Occurrence, Fate, Transport, and Ecological Impact. Current Pollution Report, 7, 40–53. http://doi.org/10.1007/s40726-020-00171-3.

Nava, V.; Leoni, B. (2021). Comparison of Different Procedures for Separating Microplastics from Sediments. Water, 13, 2854. https://doi.org/10.3390/w13202854.

Cincinelli, A.; Scopetani, C.; Chelazzi, D.; Lombardini, E.; Martellini, T.; Katsoyiannis, A.; Fossi, M.C.; Corsolini, S. (2017). Microplastic in the Surface Waters of the Ross Sea (Antarctica): Occurrence, Distribution and Characterization by FTIR. Chemosphere, 175, 391400. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2017.02.024.

Horton, A.A.; Svendsen, C.; Williams, R.J.; Spurgeon, D.J.; Lahive, E. (2017). Large Microplastic Particles in Sediments of Tributaries of the River Thames, UK – Abundance, Sources and Methods for Effective Quantification. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 114, 218226. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpolbul.2016.09.004.

Yang, L.; Luo, W.; Zhao, P.; Zhang, Y.; Kang, S.; Giesy, J.P.; Zhang, F. (2021). Microplastics in the Koshi River, a Remote Alpine River Crossing the Himalayas from China to Nepal. Environmental Pollution, 290, 118121. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.118121.

Kabir, A.H.M.E.; Sekine, M.; Imai, T.; Yamamoto, K.; Kanno, A.; Higuchi, T. (2021). Assessing Small-Scale Freshwater Microplastics Pollution, Land-Use, Source-to-Sink Conduits, and Pollution Risks: Perspectives from Japanese Rivers Polluted with Microplastics. Science of The Total Environment, 768, 144655. http://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144655.

Šaravanja, A.; Pušić, T.; Dekanić, T. (2022). Microplastics in Wastewater by Washing Polyester Fabrics. Materials, 15, 2683. http://doi.org/10.3390/ma15072683.

Read Full-Text
About this article

SUBMITTED: 12 March 2023
ACCEPTED: 02 May 2023
PUBLISHED: 25 June 2023
SUBMITTED to ACCEPTED: 51 days
DOI: https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v1i1.220

Cite this article
Karing, D. J., Anggiani, M. ., Cao, L. T. T. ., & El-shaammari, M. (2023). Occurrence of Microplastics in Kemena River and Niah River of Sarawak, Malaysia. Tropical Environment, Biology, and Technology, 1(1), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.53623/tebt.v1i1.220
Keywords
Microplactics Kemena River Niah River polyethylene polystyrene
Accessed
615
Citations
0
Share this article