Microplastics leaving a trace in mangrove sediments ever since they were first manufactured: A study from Indonesia mangroves

Muhammad Reza Cordova; Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin; Ali Arman Lubis; Muhammad Taufik Kaisupy; Singgih Prasetyo Adi Wibowo; Riyana Subandi; Deny Yogaswara; Triyoni Purbonegoro; Jeverson Renyaan; Doni Nurdiansah; Untung Sugiharto; Dienda Shintianata; Sonia Saraswati Meiliastri; Faza Putri Andini; Suratno; Muhammad Ilman; Aji Wahyu Anggoro; Basir; Simon M Cragg

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115517

Microplastics leaving a trace in mangrove sediments ever since they were first manufactured: A study from Indonesia mangroves

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Oct:195:115517. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115517. Epub 2023 Sep 8.

Authors

Muhammad Reza Cordova¹, Yaya Ihya Ulumuddin², Ali Arman Lubis³, Muhammad Taufik Kaisupy², Singgih Prasetyo Adi Wibowo², Riyana Subandi², Deny Yogaswara², Triyoni Purbonegoro², Jeverson Renyaan², Doni Nurdiansah², Untung Sugiharto³, Dienda Shintianata³, Sonia Saraswati Meiliastri³, Faza Putri Andini³, Suratno⁴, Muhammad Ilman⁵, Aji Wahyu Anggoro⁵, Basir⁵, Simon M Cragg⁶

Affiliations

¹ Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, BRIN Kawasan Ancol Jl Pasir Putih 1, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia. Electronic address: muhammad.reza.cordova@brin.go.id.
² Research Center for Oceanography, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, BRIN Kawasan Ancol Jl Pasir Putih 1, Jakarta 14430, Indonesia.
³ Research Center for Radiation Process Technology, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, Jl. Lebak Bulus Raya No.49, Jakarta 12630, Indonesia.
⁴ Research Center for Food Technology and Processing, The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency, Gading IV Playen Gunung Kidul, Yogyakarta 55861, Indonesia.
⁵ Yayasan Konservasi Alam Nusantara, Jl. Iskandarsyah Raya No.66C, Jakarta 12160, Indonesia.
⁶ Institute of Marine Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom; Centre for Blue Governance, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, United Kingdom.

PMID: 37690405
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115517

Abstract

Mangrove environments have been well recognized as marine litter traps. However, it is unclear whether mangrove sediments sink microplastics more effectively than other marine sediments due to active sedimentation. Furthermore, microplastics archives in mangrove sediments may provide quantitative data on the impact of human activities on environmental pollution throughout history. Microplastic abundance varied markedly between high and low anthropogenic activities. Both mangrove and adjacent mudflats sediments act as microplastic sequesters, despite having similar microplastic abundances and depth profiles. The decreasing trend of microplastics was observed until the sediment layers dated to the first-time plastic was manufactured in Indonesia, in the early 1950s, but microplastics remained present beneath those layers, indicating the downward movements. This discovery highlighted the significance of mangrove sediments as microplastic sinks. More research is needed to understand the mechanisms of microplastic deposition in sediments, as well as their fate and potential impact on mangrove sediment dwellers.

Keywords: Depth profile; Indonesia; Mangrove; Microplastics; Sediment; Sink.