Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in urban soil from Cyberjaya, Selangor

NIK MOHD ZAIDI, NIK MUNIRAH (2022) Occurrence and distribution of microplastics in urban soil from Cyberjaya, Selangor. [Project Paper] (Submitted)

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Abstract

Background: Microplastics are widely acknowledged as one of the most severe environmental threats, and it have been widely reported in marine environments for the past decades. Microplastics pollution of marine originates mostly from terrestrial sources; hence evidence of MPs in this system cannot be ignored. Nonetheless, there is inadequate information on Malaysia's prevalence of microplastics in urban soil. Objective: This study aims to provide information on microplastics pollution in the urban area (Cyberjaya, Selangor). Methodology: A total of 25 urban surface soil samples consisting of five (5) land use: construction area (CU: n=2), commercial area (CO: n=11), residential area (RA, n=4), roadway (RW: n=6), and vacant land (VL: n=2) were collected from the urban area of Cyberjaya, Selangor in September 2021. Microplastics were detected in the soil samples using NaCl hypersaline solution. Microscopic imaging and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to identify the extracted particles' morphological properties (size, color, shape, and polymer composition). Result and Discussion: All soil samples identified yielded particles ranging from 0.30 to 1.15 particle/g. It was CO (6.61 particle/g) that had the highest concentration, followed by RW (3.46 particle/g), RA (2.11 particle/g) and CU (1.37 particle/g), and VL (0.65 particle/g). Particle size with a range from 0 μm to 4543.47 μm was identified. The shortest microplastics particle was from the commercial area (0 μm), and the longest came from vacant land (793.775 μm). Furthermore, various colors were observed in the urban soil samples, with black (32%) being the most prevalent and followed by red (21.40%), grey (20.90%), green (11.35%), transparent (9.67%), blue (2.79%), yellow (1.12%), purple (0.56%), and white (0.19%). The most common particle extracted was fibre (52%), followed by fragment (37%), film (22%), pellet (6.7%), and foam (1.3%). Plastic polymers discovered in the recovered particles from urban soil included polycarbonate (PC), polystyrene (PS), and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), indicating that the particles originated from potential sources such as debris from littering behavior, tire and road wear, abrasion of road marking, construction materials, shoe sole wear and tear or atmospheric transport. Conclusion: Urban soil samples from Cyberjaya, Selangor, Malaysia, were found to contain microplastics. More research is needed to understand better how human activities and environmental factors may influence microplastics accumulation in urban soil. Toxicological tests are necessary to further understand microplastics toxicity to the environment. Keywords: Microplastics, land use, urban soil, Cyberjaya

Item Type:	Project Paper
Faculty:	Faculty of Medicine and Health Science
Depositing User:	Mr Hafizzuddin Hamidon
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2023 03:12
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2023 03:12
URI:	http://psaspb.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/1184

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