<![CDATA[Microplastics are synthetic polymers with a size range of less than 5 mm. Microplastics dispersed in aquatic environments are hazardous to natural ecosystems and humans. This study aims to identify the types, colors, and abundance of microplastics at Sidem Beach, Tulungagung. Samples were collected from seawater and sediment. The research stages began with measuring abiotic factors of seawater, followed by sampling, sample drying, purification and separation of microplastic particles, and observation using a stereo microscope. The types of microplastics found in seawater include fragments, filaments, fibers, and foam, with an average abundance of 0,01-0,29 (0,1 ± 0,32) particles/L, with foam dominating at 76%. In sediment, the types of microplastics found include fragments, filaments, fibers, and granules, with an average abundance of 1,33-24 (10,8 ± 16,5) particles/kg, dominated by fibers at 55%. The colors of microplastics identified include transparent, blue, red, black, gray, and white, with white being the most common in seawater and transparent in sediment. The microplastics found in water and sediment at Sidem Beach are likely the result of the degradation of plastic waste originating from anthropogenic activities around the beach. Additionally, they may also come from culinary tourism activities along the Ngrowo River, as well as domestic waste, industrial, and agricultural carried by river flow to the coastal area.]]>
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