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Microplastics contamination in different trophic state lakes along the middle and lower reaches of Yangtze River Basin
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments of 18 lakes along the middle and lower Yangtze River Basin in China. They found microplastics present in all sampled lakes and identified a correlation between lake trophic state and microplastic abundance. The study suggests that wastewater discharge, which drives both eutrophication and microplastic pollution, is a common underlying factor linking these two environmental issues.
Microplastics can enter freshwater lakes through many sources. They can act as carriers to adsorb bacteria, virus, or pollutants (e.g., heavy metal and toxic organic compounds) that threaten human health through food chain. Microplastics can exist in surface water and sediments in freshwater lakes after they enter the lakes through discharge points. Wastewater discharge is the main cause of lake eutrophication and is the main emission source of microplastics. The correlation between lake trophic state and microplastic abundance has been rarely reported. This study investigated the microplastic contamination in surface water and sediments of 18 lakes along the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River Basin in the period of August-September 2018. The correlation between lake trophic state and microplastic abundance in surface water and sediments was investigated and discussed. The microplastic abundance in surface water was approximately two orders of magnitude lower than that in sediments in all 18 lakes. Hong Lake had the highest microplastic abundance in surface water sample, and Nantaizi Lake had the highest microplastic abundance in sediment sample. The dominant microplastic shape was fiber of 93.81% in surface water sample and 94.77% in sediment sample. Blue-colored microplastics were dominant in nearly all lakes in surface water sample (around 40%-60%) and sediment sample (around 60%-80%), followed by purple- and green-colored ones. The microplastics size <1 mm was dominant in surface water sample (around 40%-60%) and sediment sample (around 50%-80%). The dominant material was polypropylene in surface water sample (around 60%-80%) and sediment sample (around 40%-60%).
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