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Microplastic Pollution in Turkish Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Characteristics, Implications, and Mitigation Strategies
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This systematic review surveys microplastic pollution across Turkish rivers, lakes, and coastal waters. It found widespread contamination from textile fibers, packaging fragments, and agricultural films, with potential implications for local seafood safety and drinking water quality.
Aquatic environments are one of the final destinations for microplastics. In this review, a combination of systematic and narrative literature review was conducted to identify and summarise advances, gaps, and future directions in microplastic monitoring studies in the Turkish aquatic environment and in inhabiting aquatic organisms. A total of 62 peer-reviewed publications available on Web of Science were considered in the systematic review. Additionally, the current state of microplastic pollution in Turkish aquatic environments which includes marine and freshwater ecosystems, as well as aquatic organisms, and sources and characteristics of microplastics were reviewed narratively. Türkiye`s position on the global plastic treaty and mitigation practices were also addressed. Although an increase in the number of publications over time was observed, the number and extent of studies carried out in freshwater ecosystems are limited. Strict legislation should be enacted and enforced to tackle plastic pollution in Türkiye. Additionally, nationwide, long-term monitoring studies at sufficiently regular intervals in aquatic environments should be considered.
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Microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: sources, impacts, and mitigation strategies
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This review synthesizes 60 peer-reviewed studies on microplastic contamination in Turkish aquatic ecosystems, examining sources, characteristics, and impacts on marine and freshwater habitats and the organisms living within them. The analysis identifies knowledge gaps in monitoring programs and highlights the need for standardized methods to track MP pollution across diverse aquatic environments.
Microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems: A case study from Turkey
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Microplastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems across Turkey was assessed as a case study, finding widespread contamination in rivers and lakes. The study highlighted that most microplastic research in Turkey, as globally, has focused on marine environments, leaving freshwater systems relatively understudied despite comparable contamination levels.
Characterization of microplastics in sediments and surface waters of Turkish lakes
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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.
Microplastic Pollution and Its Effects on Freshwater Ecosystems
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This Turkish-language review summarizes microplastic pollution and its effects on freshwater ecosystems, covering sources, distribution, and ecological impacts. The paper calls for better monitoring and regulation to protect freshwater resources that millions of people depend on for drinking water.
Microplastic pollution in two remote rivers of Türkiye
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Researchers documented microplastic pollution in two remote rivers of Turkey, finding that even waterways far from major urban centers contain significant microplastic contamination, highlighting the widespread reach of plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.