Microplastics in Water, Sediments and Benthic Macroinvertebrates of an Urban Wetland
Subject Areas : Biotechnological Journal of Environmental Microbiology
1 -
Keywords: Microplastics, Urban Wetland, Benthos, Polymer, Pollution,
Abstract :
Microplastics are an emerging pollutant for all ecosystems and organisms that have caused great concern from different perspectives. Urban wetlands are an important aquatic ecosystem with unique characteristics and numerous organisms that are severely threatened by microplastics. Sostan Wetland, Lahijan is a special urban wetland with multiple input sources and various organisms. The aim of this study was to determine the amounts of microplastics in its water, sediments and benthic macroinvertebrates. Six stations were selected and in summer 2025, sampling was carried out in them using standard methods and microplastics were separated, counted were examined in the laboratory. The results showed that the average number of microplastics in sediments was 273 pcs/kg, in water 146 pcs/L and in large benthic invertebrates 42% contaminated. Considering the amounts of microplastics in water, sediments and benthos of the wetland, it was determined that multiple sources of microplastic pollution have created the environment and food chain of these ecosystems and require specific management to improve the situation.
Abidli, S., Lahbib, Y., & El Menif, N. T. (2019). Microplastics in commercial molluscs from the lagoon of Bizerte (Northern Tunisia). Marine pollution bulletin, 142, 243-252.
Akpor, O. B., Otohinoyi, D. A., Olaolu, D. T., & Aderiye, B. I. (2014). Pollutants in wastewater effluents: impacts and remediation processes. International Journal of Environmental Research and Earth Science, 3(3), 050-059.
Barnes, D. K. A., F. Galgani, R. C. Thompson, and M. Barlaz. 2009. Accumulation and fragmentation of plastic debris in global environments. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B 364:1985–1998.
Besseling, E., Quik, J.T.K., Sun, M., Koelmans, A.A., (2017). Fate of nano- and microplastic in freshwater systems: a modeling study. Environ. Pollut. 220, 540–548.
Biginagwa, F. J., Mayoma, B. S., Shashoua, Y., Syberg, K., & Khan, F. R. (2016). First evidence of microplastics in the African Great Lakes: recovery from Lake Victoria Nile perch and Nile tilapia. Journal of Great Lakes Research, 42(1), 146-149.
Blair, R. M., Waldron, S., & Gauchotte-Lindsay, C. (2019). Average daily flow of microplastics through a tertiary wastewater treatment plant over a ten-month period. Water Research, 163, 114909.
Brander, S. M., Renick, V. C., Foley, M. M., Steele, C., Woo, M., Lusher, A., ... & Rochman, C. M. (2020). Sampling and quality assurance and quality control: a guide for scientists investigating the occurrence of microplastics across matrices. Applied Spectroscopy, 74(9), 1099-1125.
