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High-Resolution Detection of Microplastics in Zooplankton from Lake Como (Northern Italy): A Multi-Year Baseline for Large Deep Lakes
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Researchers measured microplastic loads in zooplankton across multiple years in Lake Como, Italy, finding contamination comparable to freshwater lakes worldwide, no significant difference between the lake's two main branches, and a clear seasonal pattern with higher burdens in autumn and winter — establishing a baseline for pelagic food web exposure monitoring.
d.w., values comparable to those reported for freshwater zooplankton worldwide. No significant differences were observed between the lake's two main branches, supporting a lake-wide interpretation of exposure. Clear seasonal patterns emerged, with higher MPs loads in autumn and winter. These findings highlight the potential for MPs to enter pelagic food webs and contribute to a lake-wide baseline for future harmonized monitoring and polymer-specific assessments. The main limitation of this study is the exclusive quantitative approach, which does not provide qualitative information on polymer composition. Overall, these results underscore the need to integrate zooplankton-based monitoring into freshwater microplastic risk assessment frameworks.
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Plastic particles of 1–50 mm were found on the shores of three volcanic lakes in central Italy, with accumulation varying by season and lake. The study calls for standardized monitoring methods for lakeshores, as inland water bodies are important sinks and sources of plastic pollution flowing toward the ocean.
Microplastic pollution in lakes and lake shoreline sediments – A case study on Lake Bolsena and Lake Chiusi (central Italy)
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Researchers surveyed a lake and its shoreline sediments for microplastic pollution, documenting contamination levels and particle characteristics and finding that shoreline sediments accumulated higher concentrations than open water.
Altitudinal variation of microplastic abundance in lakeshore sediments from Italian lakes
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Microplastic abundance was measured in lakeshore sediments from Italian lakes across an altitudinal gradient, finding that elevation influenced contamination levels and that even high-altitude lakes in remote areas contained plastic particles.
Monitoring of microplastics in the Lake Lugano watershed (Switzerland and Italy), CIPAIS 2022-2024
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Researchers monitored microplastic contamination in the water, sediments, and benthic macroinvertebrates of the Lake Lugano watershed across Switzerland and Italy during 2022-2024, establishing a comprehensive dataset on microplastic ingestion and distribution in this peri-alpine transboundary lake system.
Freshwater Lacustrine Zooplankton and Microplastic: An Issue to Be Still Explored
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This review examined the interactions between freshwater lacustrine zooplankton and microplastics, highlighting how microplastic ingestion affects planktonic organisms that form the base of lake food webs. The authors call for more research on lake-specific microplastic dynamics.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.