Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters and Sediments of Urban Lake

The use of plastic, which is largely included in our daily lives, causes an increase in microplastic (MP) concentrations in ecosystems. Microplastics can be found in surface waters, sediments, beaches, and some aquatic organisms. It has been revealed that pieces of plastic have been found in many places, from deserted islands to the poles and even the Mariana Trench, the deepest region in the world. Microplastics, which were first discovered in studies conducted in the oceans, have been determined to accumulate in fresh waters in recent years. Plastics, one of the most common pollutants in the city, are widely encountered in the lakes close to the city center. In addition to being transported by streams flowing into the lake, plastics can be directly contaminated into the lake by human-induced activities taking place in the lake. The types of microplastics formed by the breakdown of plastics vary depending on the characteristics of the polluting sources. In this study, the surface waters and sediments of lakes in the urban area where microplastics are contaminated were examined, and the characteristics and effects of the sources causing MP pollution were examined.