Author(s): Neval Baycan; Nefise Alyuruk; Nursena Kara; Cumana Alpergun; Fusun Peli̇t; lknur Erbas; Yiğithan Kazanci; Orhan Gunduz
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Keywords: No Keywords
Abstract: In recent years, studies on the effects of microplastics in environmental matrices have gained momentum due to the negative consequences of these substances on both aquatic organisms and human beings. While extensive research has scrutinized the prevalence of microplastic pollution in oceans and seas, their impact on terrestrial waters still remains largely unexplored. Understanding the complex pathways and transport of microplastics within river ecosystems is a mystery that has yet to be fully unraveled. Their movement within river systems is a complex interplay influenced by factors such as flow dynamics, sedimentation, and seasonal fluctuations. Understanding these mechanisms stands as a critical step in assessing the accumulation and dispersion of microplastics within river ecosystems. The main objective of this study is to assess microplastic (MP) pollution alongside micropollutants, heavy metals and other water quality parameters by examining their spatial distribution in an urban river affected by the discharges from industrial and domestic wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). In this study, water and sediment samples were collected from 20 and 5 different monitoring stations, respectively, along the Nif and Gediz rivers and the amounts of microplastics in water and sediment columns were investigated in four different seasons. Water and sediment samples collected during winter, spring, summer and fall seasons underwent rigorous laboratory analyses to identify potential seasonal variations. Using a three-dimensional stereomicroscope (Leica S Apo), the prepared samples were closely examined to characterize the shape, color and size of the microplastics. In addition, Attenuated Total Reflectance Fourier Transform InfraRed (ATR-FT-IR) spectroscopy (Perkin Elmer Frontier) was employed to determine the types of plastic materials present in samples. In addition, polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) residues and Bisphenol A (BPA) levels were also measured in water samples to determine the relationship between microplastics and micro-pollutants. Furthermore, metal analyses indicated elevated levels of arsenic, boron, magnesium, manganese, strontium, and zinc in water column. The findings further revealed that the concentration of MPs in an effluent receiving terrestrial aquatic system increased along the flow direction, with local peaks observed within the industrial zone housing numerous plastic processing plants.
Year: 2024