We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Results of interdisciplinary studies of the contamination of Lake Onego water area by microplastic particles
Summary
Researchers conducted an interdisciplinary study of microplastic contamination in Lake Onego using seasonal hydrochemical data from 2019 to 2021, mapping the distribution of synthetic polymer particles and associated heavy metals, identifying sources and accumulation zones, and assessing pollution hazard in one of Europe's largest lakes.
An interdisciplinary study of microplastic (MP) contamination in the water area of Lake Onego was conducted within a project funded by the Russian Science Foundation. The aim of the project was to assess the current state of this large water body, specifically its contamination with synthetic polymer particles and the associated heavy metals, to identify the sources and areas of MP accumulation, patternsin its sedimentation and transport, and to conduct a hazard assessment of this pollution. The article provides an overview and a summary of the obtained results. Based on seasonal hydrochemical data for 2019–2021, the current state of the lake was identified and the degree of its contamination with microplastics, heavy metals, and other chemicals was determined. The highest MP content was found in the water and in the bottom sediments of the upper, most heavily contaminated, part of the Kondopoga Bay, where wastewater from the Kondopoga Pulp and Paper Mill enters the lake. Active accumulation of MP was detected in the bottom sediments of Lake Onego, its content being about twice that of the Baltic Sea. Spatial and seasonal patterns of MP distribution in the water column of Lake Onego were revealed. It has been established that with the current level of Lake Onego littoral area contamination by irregularly shaped MP particles sized about 100 microns, their negative impact on the population of invasive species, Baikal amphipod Gmelinoides fasciatus, is unlikely. Having applied SEM-EMF and Raman spectroscopy, we revealed the mechanism for mineralogical destruction of plastics driven by the crystallization and growth of microminerals, which leads to local ruptures of the plastic and accelerates its destruction. Methods for fractionation of MP particles and desorption of metals from their surface have been developed, making it possible to obtain comparable and reproducible results when analyzing the metal content on their surface. For the first time, models were suggested to simulate microplastic generation from a set of macrofragments through stochastic destruction and filtering of three-dimensional microplastic fragments on a grid. The simulation results are in good agreement with the ratios obtained during field experiments.The revealed relationships can be used to adjust the detected levels of microplastics in the nature depending on the mesh size of the net used in sampling.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Spatial Variations in Microplastics in the Largest Shallow Lake of Central Europe and Its Protecting Wetland Area
Researchers measured microplastic concentrations across Lake Balaton, the largest shallow lake in Central Europe, and its protecting wetland area. The study found spatial variations in microplastic pollution, with the wetland and river inflow areas showing distinct contamination patterns compared to the open lake.
Research status and prospects of microplastic pollution in lakes
This review systematically covers microplastic pollution research in lakes, including sampling and identification methods, distribution patterns, ecological effects, and knowledge gaps, identifying lakes as important but understudied sinks for microplastic contamination.
The effect of tourism on microplastic pollution amount in Baltic Sea Region lakes
Researchers measured microplastic pollution in surface water and sediments from 10 lakes in Latvia, Lithuania, and Poland across spring, summer, and autumn 2023, finding that tourism pressure in lake catchment areas correlates with elevated microplastic contamination levels.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes
Researchers documented microplastic pollution across the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes, finding contamination in all lakes sampled — particularly Lake Erie — with fibers as the dominant particle type, highlighting plastic pollution in a critical freshwater system.
Analysis of microplastic concentrations in water and bottom sediments as a new aspect of ecological monitoring
This study examined the spatial distribution of microplastic particles in the water column and bottom sediments of Lake Ladoga in Russia, using data from 2018-2019. The findings provide baseline data on microplastic contamination in one of Europe's largest freshwater lakes.