Seasonal Microplastic Variability in Eastern Black Sea Riverine and Reservoir Systems
საკვანძო სიტყვები:
microplastics, seasonal variability, freshwater, sediments, surface water, reservoir, riverანოტაცია
Microplastic (MP) pollution in freshwater environments is influenced by hydrological conditions, seasonal variability, and anthropogenic inputs. However, comparative information on riverine and reservoir systems in the Eastern Black Sea region remains limited.
This study investigated the seasonal abundance and morphological characteristics of MPs in surface water and sediments from three independent freshwater systems in northeastern Türkiye: Muratlı Dam Lake (Artvin) and the Çağlayan and Arılı rivers (Rize). Seasonal sampling was conducted at 11 stations, including four in Muratlı Dam Lake (M1–M4), three in the Çağlayan River (Ç1–Ç3), and four in the Arılı River (A1–A4). MPs were extracted using alkaline digestion and density separation and characterized according to particle type and colour.
Sediment MP abundances ranged from 10 to 85 MPs/kg (wet weight, ww), with generally higher values in Muratlı Dam Lake, particularly during summer and autumn. Seasonal mean sediment abundances in the reservoir were 50.0, 31.3, 68.8, and 67.5 MPs/kg (ww) in winter, spring, summer, and autumn, respectively, with the maximum recorded at M1 in autumn (85 MP/kg, ww). Surface-water concentrations ranged from 0.13 to 1.13 MPs/L and exhibited contrasting seasonal patterns. The reservoir showed its highest mean concentration in winter (0.56 MPs/L), whereas riverine concentrations generally increased during summer and autumn, reaching a maximum at A1 in autumn (1.13 MPs/L). Fibres predominated in both matrices, followed by fragments, while rope/filament-like particles and other types occurred less frequently. Black, white, blue, and transparent particles were prominent in surface water, whereas white particles generally dominated sediments, followed by black, transparent, and blue particles.
These contrasting seasonal patterns suggest differences in MP transport and retention between reservoir and riverine environments. Higher sediment abundances in Muratlı Dam Lake may reflect particle settling and accumulation, whereas elevated riverine surface-water concentrations during warmer seasons may be associated with hydrological variability and catchment-derived inputs. Overall, the findings highlight the importance of integrated seasonal monitoring of surface water and sediments for understanding MP distribution and identifying potential accumulation zones in Eastern Black Sea freshwater ecosystems.
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