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Microplastics Across Interconnected Aquatic Matrices: A Comparative Study of Marine, Riverine, and Wastewater Matrices in Northern Greece
Summary
Scientists studied tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in seawater, rivers, and wastewater treatment plants in Northern Greece to understand how much plastic pollution exists in the region's water systems. They developed a reliable method to measure these microscopic plastic pieces and established baseline pollution levels that can help authorities create better strategies to reduce plastic contamination. This matters because microplastics can enter our drinking water and food chain, and understanding where they're most concentrated helps protect both environmental and human health.
This study provides an integrated assessment of microplastic (MP) presence across marine, riverine, and wastewater treatment plant samples in Northern Greece—a region where such data are largely lacking. The proposed analytical workflow, combining microscopy and Py–GC/MS, offers a transferable framework for monitoring programs in Mediterranean coastal zones. The findings offer valuable insights for environmental authorities in establishing baseline MP levels and guiding mitigation strategies for regional water/wastewater quality management.