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Occurrence and characterization of microplastics in freshwater surface waters: evidence from Lake Eğirdir (Türkiye)
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Scientists found nearly 12 tiny plastic particles per liter of water in Lake Eğirdir, a freshwater lake in Türkiye, with the most pollution near a harbor and during summer months. These plastics came from common materials like water bottles, packaging, and synthetic fibers, a reminder that even lakes far from oceans can accumulate plastic pollution, which matters since this water may be used for drinking, farming, or fishing that eventually reaches our plates.
Microplastic pollution has become an important environmental concern in freshwater ecosystems because of its persistence, widespread distribution, and potential ecological effects. In this study, microplastic abundance in the nearshore surface waters of Lake Eğirdir, located in Isparta Province, Türkiye, was investigated. Surface water samples were collected from three nearshore stations during summer (July) and autumn (October) of 2024. At each station, 5 L of surface water was collected and transferred into glass bottles to minimize secondary contamination. In the laboratory, the samples were filtered, subjected to oxidative pretreatment to remove organic matter, and examined under a stereomicroscope. Microplastic particles were classified according to their morphological type and color, and selected particles were analyzed by Attenuated Total Reflectance–Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy to confirm polymer composition. Quality assurance and quality control procedures, including a procedural blank, were applied throughout the study. A total of 359 microplastic particles were identified, corresponding to an overall abundance of 11.97 items/L. Microplastic abundance was higher in summer than in autumn, and the highest value was recorded at the harbour station, indicating the possible influence of local anthropogenic activities. Fragments and filaments were the dominant morphological types, whereas black was the most common color. Polymer analysis confirmed the presence of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and polystyrene, with polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate being dominant. Statistical analysis showed that morphology and color distributions differed significantly between seasons. Overall, this preliminary assessment provides baseline data for future monitoring of microplastic pollution in Lake Eğirdir.
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Researchers surveyed seven lakes in Turkey and found microplastics in all of them, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Human activities like tourism, fishing, and urban waste disposal were identified as major sources, showing that even protected lake areas are contaminated with plastic particles that can enter drinking water supplies.
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Lake Gölcük in western Turkey, a freshwater lake under growing pressure from tourism and development, was found to contain microplastics across all sampled compartments—water, sediments, fish muscle, fish digestive tracts, and invertebrate tissues. Tourist-heavy areas of the lake showed the highest contamination, suggesting recreational human activity is a major local source. The presence of microplastics in fish muscle tissue is particularly significant because it indicates that plastic particles can enter the human food chain through locally caught fish.
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