Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, Cukurova University, 01330, Adana, Turkey.
Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, Munzur University, 62000, Tunceli, Turkey.
Environ Monit Assess. 2023 Jun 1;195(6):791. doi: 10.1007/s10661-023-11426-z.
Microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems presents an emerging environmental threat that can have adverse effects on ecology, endanger aquatic species, and result in economic damage. Despite the numerous studies reporting the presence of microplastics in marine environments, research into their presence in freshwater systems or inland waters remains limited. This study aimed to assess the level of microplastic pollution transported by the Munzur and Pülümür Rivers and some small rivers that flow into the Uzunçayır dam lake, which is the confluence of the Munzur and Pülümür Rivers in Türkiye. Samples were collected from 23 stations, with the concentration of microplastics ranging from 0.01 MP/m at P-4 station to 28.21 MP/m at P-10, a station located near a city. Microplastics comprise four types: fiber, film, fragment, and glitter. The average size of microplastics was 1.46 ± 0.05 mm, with the average size of fibers, films, fragments, and glitter-type microplastics being 1.58 ± 0.07 mm, 1.23 ± 0.10 mm, 1.21 ± 0.11 mm, and 0.78 ± 0.16 mm, respectively. The most frequent polymers were polyethylene (31.8%), polystyrene (21.1%), and polypropylene (10.5%). Despite being considered remote and less populated rivers compared to other river systems in Türkiye, all sampling sites showed varying concentrations of microplastics.
微塑料污染在水生生态系统中构成了一种新兴的环境威胁,可能对生态造成不良影响,危及水生物种,并导致经济损失。尽管有大量研究报告称海洋环境中存在微塑料,但对淡水系统或内陆水域中微塑料的存在的研究仍然有限。本研究旨在评估 Munzur 和 Pülümür 河流以及一些流入土耳其 Uzunçayır 大坝湖的小河流所携带的微塑料污染水平,该湖是 Munzur 和 Pülümür 河的汇合处。从 23 个站点采集了样本,微塑料的浓度范围从 P-4 站的 0.01 MP/m 到位于城市附近的 P-10 站的 28.21 MP/m。微塑料包括纤维、薄膜、碎片和闪光片四种类型。微塑料的平均尺寸为 1.46 ± 0.05 毫米,纤维、薄膜、碎片和闪光片微塑料的平均尺寸分别为 1.58 ± 0.07 毫米、1.23 ± 0.10 毫米、1.21 ± 0.11 毫米和 0.78 ± 0.16 毫米。最常见的聚合物是聚乙烯(31.8%)、聚苯乙烯(21.1%)和聚丙烯(10.5%)。尽管与土耳其其他河流系统相比,这些河流被认为偏远且人口较少,但所有采样点都显示出不同浓度的微塑料。