Preliminary study of microplastic in bottled drinking water

Abstract Microplastic is widely discussed and has become growing attention because of its negative impact on the environment well-being living organisms. Some international studies have found microplastics in some foods beverages, such as honey, beer, table salt, drinking water. However, there are few accurate analytical techniques for identifying analysing microplastics, especially beverages foods. This preliminary study investigates that might contaminate bottled water, their physical properties, types material. Five local brands 120 ml water were used this research, collected from a traditional market South Tangerang. The samples observed visually microplastic’s presence, sizes, shapes using digital microscope. Furthermore, material identification Microscope - Fourier transform infra-red (μ-FTIR) was conducted to analyse present samples. results show all examined contaminated, major pollutants fibres with lengths between 0.042 3.668 mm. According result μ-FTIR, materials most cellulose-based polymers, which natural textiles (e.g., cotton) synthetic fibres. In five analysed neither packaging polypropylene nor bottle caps made polyethylene detected. These findings indicate not contaminated by microplastic, but micro debris polymers.