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Microplastic Content in Non-Point Source And Point Sources of Colombo And Suburbs – Experimental Study on the Impact of Seasonal Variation
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations at point and non-point source locations in Colombo, Sri Lanka, across different seasons. Microplastics were found throughout the surface water network, with concentrations varying by season and location type. The study provides valuable baseline data for a poorly studied region and highlights urban water bodies as major microplastic sources.
Microplastics, which can enter aquatic environments through various sources, are small plastic pieces that are less than 5 mm in length. There are two types: primary and secondary microplastics. Sri Lanka has limited studies on microplastics in inland water bodies, so this research aims to quantify the levels of microplastic pollution in Colombo's surface waters in a spatiotemporal manner. Samples were taken from Beira Lake, Dutch canal network, Talangama canal, in wet and dry seasons. Microplastic concentrations were determined using NOAA guidelines and an optical microscope. Statistical analysis was performed using IBM SPSS version 21, including One-way Anova and Pearson correlations to identify significant differences and correlations. The study found that Dutch Canal had the highest average microplastic concentration of 12.7 mg/L during the wet season, and the lowest of 4.2 mg/L during the dry season. Both Dutch Canal and Talangama canal showed significantly higher microplastic concentrations during the wet season than the dry season, while the opposite was found in Beira Lake. The statistical analysis showed significant differences between microplastic concentrations in wet and dry seasons in all three water bodies. The microplastic levels in Beira Lake were higher on the surface water during the dry season (4.32 mg/L) and wet season (13.77 mg/L) compared to point sources (4.05 mg/L and 11.68 mg/L, respectively). Furthermore, Dutch canal's point sources showed higher during the dry season (8.47 mg/L) than the wet season (11.51 mg/L) and concentration of microplastics on the surface water was higher during the wet season (5.73 mg/L) than the dry season (7.16 mg/L). Talangama canal had similar patterns to Beira Lake. The study found microplastic contamination in urban and semi-urban surface waters at levels comparable to some industrialized countries, highlighting a concerning issue. KEYWORDS: Microplastic pollution, Seasonal impact, Sri Lanka, Urban, Colombo
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"A multi-year study of surface waters in and around Colombo, Sri Lanka, found microplastic concentrations of 2 to 36 particles per liter, with fibers and fragments dominant, and a moderate correlation between pollution levels and the degree of urbanization in the catchment area. The findings suggest that urban land use drives microplastic loading into waterways, with implications for drinking water quality and aquatic ecosystem health in rapidly urbanizing South Asian cities."
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