Microplastic-Heavy Metal Co-Contamination in Indonesian Coastal Ecosystems: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Plastic pollution and heavy metal contamination represent critical threats to marine ecosystems globally, yet their combined occurrence and interaction remain poorly understood. Indonesia, the world's largest archipelagic nation, experiences severe contamination in its coastal waters from both pollutant classes, but no systematic synthesis has examined their co-occurrence and ecological implications. This systematic review synthesizes evidence on the spatial distribution, interaction mechanisms, and ecological consequences of microplastic and heavy metal co-contamination in Indonesian coastal ecosystems. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed databases. Keywords included microplastic, heavy metal, marine pollution, Indonesia, and bioindicator. Data were extracted on contaminant concentrations, polymer types, metal species, and bioaccumulation patterns. Highest microplastic concentrations occurred in Jakarta Bay (1,800–18,000 particles/m³ in water; 45,066 particles/kg in sediment), while the Citarum River showed up to 130,000 particles/L near discharge points. Heavy metals including Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn exceeded marine quality standards in urban-industrial zones. These findings demonstrate that microplastic-heavy metal co-contamination creates emergent ecological risks exceeding additive predictions, threatening marine biodiversity and ecosystem services. Integrated monitoring using bioindicator species and coordinated management frameworks are urgently required.
Keywords
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Details
Primary Language
English
Subjects
Ecotoxicology
Journal Section
Review Article
Authors
Early Pub Date
October 30, 2026
Publication Date
October 31, 2026
Submission Date
September 11, 2026
Acceptance Date
October 26, 2026
Published in Issue
Year 2026 Volume: 1 Number: 1