ECOTON Research reveals microplastics in the air of 18 regions, here is the list

Jakarta – The Institute for Ecology and Wetland Conservation Studies (ECOTON) has released the results of a research study on microplastic contamination in the air of 18 cities/districts in Indonesia. Central Jakarta ranks first as the city with the highest microplastic contamination. The results of this study were released on Thursday (23/10/2025) on the ECOTON website. ECOTON conducted this study together with the Indonesian Association of Environmental Journalists (SEIJ). The research was conducted in May-July 2025. Research on microplastic pollution in ambient air was conducted in 18 cities/districts in Indonesia. This research uses a method to monitor passive deposition of microplastics in the air using microscopic analysis and Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to determine the type of polymer. Research steps include placing glass petri dishes at a height of 1-1.5 meters (human breathing zone) in representative locations in each city. Scroll TO CONTINUE CONTENT The results of the study revealed 5 cities with the highest contamination. Central Jakarta is first. Particle size for 2 hours per 9 cm. While the fragment content was 53.26%, the fiber type was 46.14% and the film type 0.6%. The following is a complete list of the 18 cities: 1. Central Jakarta (37 particles)2. South Jakarta (30 particles) 3. Bandung (16 particles) 4. Semarang (13 particles) 5. Kupang (13 particles)6. Denpasar (12 particles)7. Jambi (12 particles)8. Surabaya (12 particles) 9. Palembang (10 particles) 10. Pontianak (10 particles) 11. North Aceh (10 particles) 12. Sumbawa (10 particles) 13. Palu (9 particles) 14. Sidoarjo (9 particles) (6 particles) 15. Gisoarjo (9 particles) 15. 17. Bulukumba (4 particles) 18. Malang (2 particles) Head ECOTON Laboratory, Rafika Aprilianti explained that this study supports the findings of BRIN research which revealed that rainwater in Jakarta contains microplastics. That’s why Jakarta is first. “The high level of microplastics in Jakarta’s air has an impact on the high levels of microplastics in rainwater, because rainwater absorbs material in the atmosphere so that the microplastics in the air are trapped in rainwater and dissolved in it,” said Rafika. He explained that the types of polymers found in air are more diverse than the types of polymers found in air. Apart from the 5 types of polymers found in rainwater, namely polyester, nylon, polyethylene, polypropylene and polybutadiene. Ecoton and SEIJ researchers also found polymers in the air, namely PTFE, Epoxy, Polyisobutylene (synthetic rubber), Polyolefin and silica. “More diverse types of microplastic polymers are in the air because 57% of the habit of burning plastic waste due to poor waste services in Indonesia contributes to the high levels of microplastic particles found in our air,” said Sofi Azilan Aini, volunteer coordinator of Microplastics Research. He revealed that Jakarta was the city with the highest level of air microplastic pollution in Indonesia, with a total of 37 particles in a 2-hour period, far above other cities such as Malang with 2 microplastic particles in a 2-hour period. For Jakarta, sampling was conducted at Tanah Abang Market, Jalan Sawah Besar and the Ragunan area. Tanah Abang Market, which is the largest textile trade center in Southeast Asia, has become a microplastic hotspot due to a combination of high vehicle traffic, the use of single-use plastics, loading and unloading activities and the release of synthetic fibers from textile clothing. Meanwhile, the city with the lowest abundance of airborne microplastics was found in Malang, only 2 particles in 2 hours, due to low industrial activity and waste incineration and the dominance of natural vegetation. ECOTON encourages the Ministry of the Environment to take strategic steps. Some of these include banning the burning of waste in open spaces, improving waste sorting facilities, regular monitoring of microplastics in the air and strengthening environmental campaigns. (rdp/imk)