Papers

61,005 results
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Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in two remote rivers of Türkiye

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.

2023 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 31 citations
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic Pollution in Turkish Aquatic Ecosystems: Sources, Characteristics, Implications, and Mitigation Strategies

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.

2023 Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 51 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in aquatic ecosystems: sources, impacts, and mitigation strategies

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.

2025 International Journal of Aquatic Research and Environmental Studies
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution and ecological risk assessment of a pond ecosystem

Researchers quantified and characterized microplastics in a freshwater pond in Turkey, finding particles at all five sampling stations across multiple size classes. The study contributes baseline data on microplastic pollution in inland freshwater ecosystems in the region, where such monitoring is still limited despite the potential for drinking water and wildlife exposure.

2024 Environmental Monitoring and Assessment 2 citations
Article Tier 2

A review of plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems of Turkey

This review of plastic pollution in Turkish aquatic ecosystems found that both macro- and microplastics have been documented in marine and freshwater environments, with Turkey identified as a major contributor to Mediterranean and Black Sea plastic pollution but limited regulation and monitoring in place.

2021 Environmental Science and Pollution Research 57 citations
Article Tier 2

Characterization of microplastics in sediments and surface waters of Turkish lakes

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.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 12 citations
Article Tier 2

Beyond the ocean: contamination of freshwater ecosystems with (micro-)plastic particles

This review examined the available data on microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and urban water systems — and found it to be widespread globally, though often underreported compared to marine environments. The authors highlight the need for reliable concentration data and chemical characterization of freshwater plastics to properly assess ecological risk.

2015 Environmental Chemistry 540 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Distribution and Composition in Various Ecosystems of the Marmara Region: Current Gaps and Research Needs

Researchers compared microplastic composition and distribution across five ecosystems in Turkey's Marmara region: marine water, freshwater, marine sediment, freshwater sediment, and biota. Each ecosystem had distinct polymer profiles and size distributions, revealing that cross-compartment studies are essential for understanding the regional microplastic pollution landscape.

2025 Marine Science and Technology Bulletin
Article Tier 2

Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Characterization of Microplastic Pollution in The Three Main Freshwater Systems (Aksu and Köprü Streams, Manavgat River) And Fishing Grounds Located in Their Vicinities in The Antalya Bay

Researchers found 2,444 microplastics across three freshwater systems near Antalya Bay, Turkey, with fibers (57%) and fragments (33%) dominating, and polyethylene and polypropylene as the most common polymers, showing a homogeneous pollution pattern across all sampling sites.

2021 Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 9 citations
Review Tier 2

Microplastics in freshwater systems: A review of the emerging threats, identification of knowledge gaps and prioritisation of research needs

This review synthesizes the growing body of research on microplastic contamination in freshwater rivers, lakes, and sediments, which has received far less attention than marine environments. Researchers found that freshwater microplastic concentrations can rival or exceed those reported in ocean studies, particularly near urban and industrial areas. The study identifies critical knowledge gaps including the lack of standardized sampling methods and limited understanding of how microplastics affect freshwater organisms and ecosystems.

2015 Water Research 2541 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems of India: Current Trends and Future Perspectives

The study provides a comprehensive review of microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems across India, including lakes and rivers. Researchers found that microplastic research in Indian freshwater environments has grown significantly but remains limited compared to marine studies, highlighting the need for expanded monitoring given India's increasing plastic production and low recycling rates.

2023 ACS Omega 58 citations
Article Tier 2

Mikroplastik Kirliliği ve Tatlısu Ekosistemlerindeki Etkileri

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.

2023 Menba Kastamonu Üniversitesi Su Ürünleri Fakültesi Dergisi 2 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic pollution in Cevdet Dündar Pond: first observation on freshwater of Turkey

This study reports the first documented occurrence of microplastic pollution in Cevdet Dundar Pond, a Turkish freshwater body. Microplastics of various shapes and polymer types were found, establishing a baseline for freshwater microplastic monitoring in the region.

2020
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution at Different Trophic Levels of Freshwater Fish in a Variety of Türkiye`s Lakes and Dams

This study surveyed microplastic contamination in seven freshwater fish species from lakes and reservoirs across Türkiye, finding microplastic particles in the gastrointestinal tracts of all 406 fish examined. All ingested microplastics were fibres, predominantly blue in colour, suggesting textile sources. The broad geographic scope and 100% prevalence across species and water bodies indicate that microplastic contamination of freshwater fish is widespread throughout Türkiye, with implications for human exposure through fish consumption.

2023 Turkish Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences 11 citations
Article Tier 2

Sources, Occurrence, and Analysis of Microplastics in Freshwater Environments

This review summarizes current knowledge on microplastic sources and occurrence in freshwater environments, noting that freshwater systems are major conduits delivering microplastics to the ocean. The review highlights that freshwater microplastic research lags far behind marine studies despite rivers and lakes being primary pollution pathways.

2022 6 citations
Article Tier 2

Comparative Distribution of Microplastics in Different Inland Aquatic Ecosystems

Researchers surveyed microplastic pollution in seven Greek inland water bodies differing in morphology and human impact, finding microplastics (predominantly fibers) in all samples with abundances from 0.60 particles/m³, highlighting contamination even in less impacted freshwater systems.

2025 Preprints.org
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Freshwater Ecosystems in India: A Comprehensive Review

This review examines the occurrence, sources, and ecological risks of microplastics across freshwater ecosystems in India, synthesizing current literature on contamination levels in rivers, lakes, and other inland water bodies.

2025 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND ANALYTICAL REVIEWS
Systematic Review Tier 1

Microplastic contamination, an emerging threat to the freshwater environment: a systematic review

Researchers systematically reviewed the spread of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems — rivers, lakes, and streams — documenting their sources, how they move through water, the damage they cause to aquatic organisms, and the methods used to detect them. Their review serves as a baseline reference for future research and calls for improved waste management to protect freshwater environments from ongoing microplastic contamination.

2024 ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS RESEARCH 98 citations
Article Tier 2

Emergent Contaminants in Freshwater Ecosystem: A case study from Turkey

This Turkish study evaluated emerging contaminants including PCBs, flame retardants, pesticides, and microplastics in a major river basin. The research documents co-contamination of freshwater with multiple classes of pollutants, highlighting the complexity of environmental exposures for aquatic life and downstream communities.

2023 Kocatepe Veterinary Journal
Article Tier 2

Emerging threats and persistent conservation challenges for freshwater biodiversity

This review provides a comprehensive overview of microplastic pollution in freshwater environments, covering sources, distribution, and ecological impacts in rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. Researchers found that freshwater microplastic contamination is widespread globally but that standardized sampling and analysis methods are still lacking. The study calls for more consistent research approaches so that contamination levels across different water bodies can be meaningfully compared.

2018 Biological reviews/Biological reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 3293 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Contamination in Freshwater Fish: First Insights from Gelingüllü Reservoir (Türkiye)

Researchers conducted the first study of microplastic contamination in freshwater fish from Gelingullu Reservoir in Turkey, examining common carp, mirror carp, and European perch. Microplastics were found in 75% of the 77 fish examined, with fibers being the dominant type and particles smaller than 100 micrometers being most prevalent. Polystyrene, polyester, and polypropylene were the main polymers identified across gill and gastrointestinal tract samples.

2025 Water Air & Soil Pollution 7 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastics in Turkish coastal lagoons: Unveiling the hidden threat to wetland ecosystems

Researchers conducted the first comprehensive assessment of microplastic pollution in five coastal lagoons in northeastern Mediterranean Turkey, recovering over 15,500 microplastic particles from water and sediment samples. Water concentrations were significantly higher in November than in June, with fibers being the dominant type and polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyester the most common polymers. The findings point to agricultural runoff, fishing gear, and mismanaged waste as significant pollution sources in these ecologically important wetland ecosystems.

2025 Environmental Pollution 9 citations
Article Tier 2

Microplastic Pollution in the Environment

This review examines the accumulation of microplastics in marine and freshwater environments, synthesizing evidence on how microplastic pollution affects aquatic habitats and human health while highlighting that research focus has disproportionately emphasized marine over freshwater systems.

2025
Article Tier 2

Tracking the microplastic pollution in the freshwater environments of southeastern Türkiye: Usage of Unio delicatus, Unio Terminalis and Dreissena polymorpha as bioindicators of microplastics

This study examined microplastic contamination in three freshwater mussel species collected from rivers and a dam lake in southeastern Turkey, finding relatively low average concentrations (under 1 microplastic per individual) but confirming that these mussels do accumulate plastic particles from their surroundings. Because mussels are filter feeders with a fixed lifestyle, they reflect local pollution levels well, making them useful sentinels for tracking microplastic contamination in freshwater ecosystems. The research adds to growing evidence that microplastics are now present even in inland freshwater species far from the ocean.

2025 Journal of Contaminant Hydrology 1 citations