Preliminary assessment of microplastic contamination in fish species from Lake Maninjau, West Sumatra, Indonesia

Lake Maninjau, a volcanic lake in West Sumatra, Indonesia, is increasingly affected by microplastic (MP) pollution, raising concerns over ecological integrity and potential human exposure via the food web. Despite its ecological and socio-economic relevance, few studies have explored MP contamination in fish from this lake. This preliminary and descriptive study investigates the abundance and basic characteristics of MPs found in several fish species, considering biological factors such as fish size and weight, and environmental factors based on sampling stations. Fish samples were collected from four locations within the lake. MPs were extracted using chemical digestion, filtered, and analyzed. MP concentrations ranged from 725 ± 25–1450 ± 100 particles/kg of fish tissue. Fragmented particles were predominant (60.56 %), with most measuring ≤ 101 µm (26.67 %) and appearing black in color (76.11 %). Polymer characterization using ATR-FTIR was limited to particles > 500 µm, identifying polyamide, polyethylene, and polyester. The findings suggest a high degree of MP contamination in Lake Maninjau fish, although limitations in polymer identification and statistical depth must be acknowledged. This study serves as a foundational reference for future research on microplastic pollution in freshwater systems and highlights the urgent need for more comprehensive investigations and pollution mitigation strategies.