فهرست نشریات علمی دسترسی آزاد ایران

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Porong River is one of the main rivers in East Java, Indonesia, flowing through residential areas and industrial zones in the regencies of Mojokerto and Sidoarjo, before emptying into the Java Sea. The presence of microplastics from domestic and industrial waste in the aquatic ecosystem is a serious concern as microplastics can carry additives and water-soluble toxic compounds, potentially harming aquatic organisms and contributing to environmental pollution. This study aims to evaluate the impact of microplastic contamination in the Porong River on fish health.METHODS: The study was conducted at Porong River at five sampling stations with three replications at each location. Observed parameters included microplastic abundance, water quality, histological changes in fish organs, fish blood hematological parameters, and Canonical Correspondence Analysis.FINDINGS: The results showed that microplastic contamination in the Porong River was found in water and sediment, dominated by polyethylene terephthalate with maximum abundances of 94.3 particles per liter and 166.1 particles per kilogram, respectively. Microplastics were also detected in fish gills and intestines. Microplastic affects the blood composition and tissue structure of fish. Hematological analysis indicates deviations in blood cell parameters as an indication of physiological stress in fish. Average neutrophil is 11.82 percent, higher than that obtained in the normal fish. Most stations indicated the lymphocyte in below normal levels. Fish gills showed mild damage across all observation stations, with the highest tissue damage score at Station 2 (24.4 percent) and the lowest at Station 5 (9.74 percent). A positive correlation is observed between microplastic in the gills and sediment with edema and hyperplasia parameters. Microplastic in the intestines has a lesser impact on structural tissue changes compared to the gills.CONCLUSION: Exposure to microplastics has affected fish health and disturbed the balance of the aquatic ecosystem in the Porong River. These results can be adopted to generate regulation for effective mitigation and handling of plastic waste in river to reduce microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.