We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Preliminary Screening for Microplastic Concentrations in the Surface Water of the Ob and Tom Rivers in Siberia, Russia
Summary
Researchers conducted a preliminary survey of microplastic concentrations in surface water of the Ob and Tom Rivers in western Siberia, finding averages of 44.2-51.2 items per cubic meter with over 93% of particles smaller than 1 mm, establishing baseline data for Arctic-flowing Russian rivers that were previously unmapped for microplastic pollution.
To date, the largest Russian rivers discharging to the Arctic Ocean remain a “blank spot” on the world map of data on the distribution of microplastics in freshwater systems. This study characterizes the abundance and morphology of microplastics in surface water of the Ob River and its large tributary, the Tom River, in western Siberia. The average number of particles for the two rivers ranged from 44.2 to 51.2 items per m3 or from 79.4 to 87.5 μg per m3 in the Tom River and in the Ob River, respectively. Of the recovered microplastics, 93.5% were less than 1 mm in their largest dimension, the largest group (45.5% of total counts) consisted of particles with sizes range 0.30–1.00 mm. Generally, microfragments of irregular shape were the most abundant among the Ob and Tom samples (47.4%) and exceeded microfibers (22.1%), microfilms (20.8%), and microspheres (9.74%) by average counts. Results from this study provide a baseline for understanding the scale of the transport of microplastics by the Ob River system into the Arctic Ocean and add to currently available data on microplastics abundance and diversity in freshwater systems of differing global geographic locations.
Sign in to start a discussion.
More Papers Like This
Screening of Мicroplastic Сontent in Surface Waters of Russian Rivers
Microplastics were detected in surface waters of multiple Russian rivers across different watersheds, with secondary plastic forms indicating fragmentation of larger plastic waste as the dominant source. Sampling covered rivers in the Ural, Siberian, and European Russia regions. The study establishes baseline data for microplastic contamination in understudied Russian freshwater systems.
Microplastics distribution in the Eurasian Arctic is affected by Atlantic waters and Siberian rivers
Analysis of 60 water samples from the Eurasian Arctic found average microplastic concentrations of 0.004 items/m³ in surface net samples and 0.8 items/m³ in subsurface pump samples, with particle type and abundance differing significantly between Atlantic water masses and Siberian river plumes.
Evidence for Microplastics Contamination of the Remote Tributary of the Yenisei River, Siberia—The Pilot Study Results
Researchers found microplastic concentrations of 1.20 to 4.53 items/m³ in surface water and up to 543 items/kg in bottom sediments of the Nizhnyaya Tunguska River, a remote Yenisei tributary in Siberia, with concentrations likely originating from local human activity and increasing downstream.
Microplastics in Surface Waters of the Russian Arctic Seas: Distribution, Concentration, Identification, and Eco-Risks for Fish
Microplastics were detected across surface waters of the Russian Arctic seas, with concentrations and polymer types varying by region and season. The findings document that even high-latitude Arctic waters are not spared from microplastic contamination, likely transported by ocean currents and rivers.
Microplastic Pollution in the Surface Waters from Plain and Mountainous Lakes in Siberia, Russia
Researchers conducted the first analysis of microplastic pollution in six lakes across southern Siberia, including both mountainous and plain environments. Microplastics were detected in all lakes studied, even those in protected areas with no permanent population nearby. The findings indicate that microplastic contamination has reached remote freshwater environments in Siberia, highlighting the widespread nature of this pollution.