Microplastic contamination on urban river under different precipitation rate and land use gradient

Microplastic pollution has been widely known to infect river ecosystems. However, comprehensive information regarding the abundance and distribution of microplastics and the role of spatiotemporal variations in urban streams of Java Island is urgently needed. This study provides an integrated assessment of microplastic contamination in the Gajahwong Stream, Indonesia. We analyzed surface water, sediment, and fish across nine sites to assess the abundance and distribution of microplastics and the influence of land use gradients and seasonal variation. A total of 497 MP particles were collected, with a significantly higher number of particles observed during the dry season compared to the wet season. Fibers were the predominant shape, and Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy confirmed polyethylene terephthalate as the polymer, pointing toward laundry, textiles, and domestic greywater as major pollution sources. Generalized Linear Mixed Model revealed that developed land use positively correlated with MP abundance in water during the dry season, while the wet season was characterized by a flushing effect, obscuring local land use relationships. Bioaccumulation in fish was driven more by species-specific behavioral and morphological factors. However, the dominance of fragment particles in sediments that potentially threaten benthopelagic fish cannot be overlooked. These findings highlight the urgent need for improved waste management and greywater treatment facility to mitigate plastic leakage in the urban river ecosystem.