Khan Asmat Begum, Pereao Omoniyi, Sparks Conrad, Opeolu Beatrice
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa.
Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry Research Group, Cape Peninsula University of Technology, Cape Town, South Africa; Department of Chemistry and Environmental Science, Medgar Evers College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, 11225, United States.
Environ Pollut. 2025 Sep 15;381:126555. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.126555. Epub 2025 May 28.
Rivers play a vital role in the water cycle and serve as habitats for numerous species and potentially contributing to microplastic pollution in the ocean. The Diep River is an important habitat for numerous species bordered by various ecological zones. However, it also presents a risk and pathway for microplastic pollution that can enter the ocean. This study investigated variations in microplastics particle concentrations in water and sediment samples from five locations in the Diep River. Water samples (100 L) were screened onsite using a 250 μm mesh, while an additional 20 L of water samples were filtered through a 20 μm mesh in the laboratory. Additionally, 20 g of sediment samples were collected for analysis at a depth of 5-10 cm from each site and characterised with a combination of visual and FTIR techniques. Fibres were found to be the most dominant shape at all the sites, DR-1 (95.80 %); DR-2 (88.2 %); DR-3 (75.0 %); DR-4 (72.0 %); and DR-5 (93.1 %). The black/grey (47 %) colour and 500-2000 μm (66 %) size categories were the most prevalent for all sites. FTIR analysis showed that polyethylene (52 %) and polystyrene (20 %) were the most abundant polymer types. The microplastic burden was higher in tourist and recreational areas than non-tourist areas. The MP Pollution Load Index (PLI) in the Diep River showed moderate contamination for all sites except DR 2, which has no water flow and therefore no values in autumn. This study offers new insights into microplastic contamination in South Africa's surface water.
河流在水循环中起着至关重要的作用，是众多物种的栖息地，同时可能导致海洋中的微塑料污染。蝶河是众多物种的重要栖息地，周边环绕着各种生态区域。然而，它也为微塑料污染提供了一条可能进入海洋的风险途径。本研究调查了蝶河五个地点的水和沉积物样本中微塑料颗粒浓度的变化。现场使用250μm筛网对100升水样进行筛选，另外20升水样在实验室通过20μm筛网过滤。此外，从每个地点5-10厘米深处采集20克沉积物样本进行分析，并结合视觉和傅里叶变换红外光谱技术进行表征。在所有地点，纤维都是最主要的形状，DR-1（95.80%）；DR-2（88.2%）；DR-3（75.0%）；DR-4（72.0%）；DR-5（93.1%）。黑色/灰色（47%）颜色和500-2000μm（66%）尺寸类别在所有地点最为普遍。傅里叶变换红外光谱分析表明，聚乙烯（52%）和聚苯乙烯（20%）是最丰富的聚合物类型。旅游和娱乐区域的微塑料负荷高于非旅游区域。蝶河的微塑料污染负荷指数（PLI）显示，除DR 2外，所有地点均受到中度污染，DR 2在秋季没有水流，因此没有数值。本研究为南非地表水的微塑料污染提供了新的见解。
