Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 236, May 2018, Pages 645-651, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:
Plastic debris incidence in marine environment was already highlighted
in the early 1970s. Over the last decade, microplastic pollution in the
environment has received increasing attention and is now an emerging
research area. Many studies have focused on quantifying microplastic
abundance in the marine environment, while there are relatively few data
on microplastic occurrence in freshwater environment.

Recent studies have reported high concentrations of microplastics in lakes and rivers,
although the understanding of several factors influencing source,
transport and fate is still limited.

This study compares different lakes and the common factors, which could influence the
occurrence and distribution of microplastics. The three subalpine lakes monitored
include Lake Maggiore, Iseo and Garda. The selected sampling transects
reflect the hydrologic conditions, the morphometric characteristics of
these lakes, and other factors influencing the release of plastics
debris in lakes.
Particles of microplastics (<5 mm) were found in all
sampled surfaces. The particles collected were classified depending on
their number, shape and composition. The shape distribution showed the
dominating occurrence of fragments (73.7%). The chemical composition of
all examined samples clearly shows dominating presence of polyethylene
(45%), polystyrene (18%) and polypropylene (15%). The results provide
significant relations among the different contribution of direct and diffuse sources
to the quantity of microplastics, highlighting the importance of understanding the
spatial distribution dynamics of microplastics within a lake system that acts as a
sink and source of plastic particles.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=17EhMd98X_sc0TFyMcKfVPF2qI0GMoAJM

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.008.

(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117345074)

The post Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..

Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes,

Environmental Pollution, Volume 236, May 2018, Pages 645-651, ISSN 0269-7491,

Abstract:

Plastic debris incidence in marine environment was already highlighted in the early 1970s. Over the last decade, microplastic pollution in the environment has received increasing attention and is now an emerging
research area.
Many studies have focused on quantifying microplastic abundance in the marine environment, while there are relatively few data on microplastic occurrence in freshwater environment. Recent studies have reported high concentrations of microplastics in lakes and rivers, although the understanding of several factors influencing source,
transport and fate is still limited.
This study compares different lakes and the common factors, which could influence the occurrence and distribution of microplastics. The three subalpine lakes monitored include Lake Maggiore, Iseo and Garda. The selected sampling transects reflect the hydrologic conditions, the morphometric characteristics of these lakes, and other factors influencing the release of plastics debris in lakes.
Particles of microplastics (<5 mm) were found in all sampled surfaces. The particles collected were classified depending on their number, shape and composition. The shape distribution showed the dominating occurrence of fragments (73.7%). The chemical composition of all examined samples clearly shows dominating presence of polyethylene (45%), polystyrene (18%) and polypropylene (15%). The results provide significant relations among the different contribution of direct and diffuse sources to the quantity of microplastics, highlighting the importance of understanding the spatial distribution dynamics of microplastics within a lake system that acts as a sink and source of plastic particles.

https://drive.google.com/open?id=17EhMd98X_sc0TFyMcKfVPF2qI0GMoAJM
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2018.02.008.(https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0269749117345074)

The post Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Italian Subalpine Lakes appeared first on One Earth - One Ocean e. V..