The Effectiveness of Immersion Time With Saturated NaCl Toward Microplastic Levels In Shellfish

Abstract

Plastic waste is a type of inorganic waste that can cause pollution in water bodies. Plastic waste in the aquatic environment can be degraded into microscopic particles called microplastics. Shellfishes are one of the aquatic biota with feeding filter properties, so that they allow microplastics to enter the shells body. The presence of microplastics can pose food safety risk, which can have negative health impacts. There is a need for treatment before shellfishes are consumed to reduce the levels of microplastics, namely immersion using saturated NaCl. Saturated NaCl can float particles that have smaller density. The aim of the research is to analyze the effect of immertion time using saturated NaCl toward microplastic levels in shellfishes. Methods: Type of pre-experimental research with pretest-posttest group design. The independent variable of the study is the immertion time using saturated NaCl with variations of 30, 60, 90 minutes. The dependent variable of the study is the microplastic levels in shellfishes. The research sample is green mussels with 9 replications. Microplastic observation using a binocular microscope with a magnification of 10 and count the amount in 50 gr. The analysis used paired T test. Result and Discussion: The effectiveness of reducing the levels of microplastic before and after soaking using Saturated NaCl for 30 minutes was 54.86%, 60 minutes was 62.83%, and 90 minutes was 61.72%. Analysis of the effect of immersion time using saturated NaCl on microplastic levels for 30 minutes of treatment obtained p value 0.000(<0.005), treatment for 60 minutes p value 0.000 (<0.005), and treatment for 90 minutes p value 0.000 (<0.005). It means that the immertion time using saturated NaCl for 30, 60 and 90 minutes affects the microplastic levels in shellfishes. Conclusion: Immertion time in 30 minutes is ineffective to reduce microplastic levels in shellfishes. Immertion time in 60 and 90 minutes is quite effective to reduce microplastic levels in shellfishes. Immertion time using saturated NaCl in 30, 60, and 90 minutes affects the micoplastic levels in shellfishes.