Author(s): Pegah Jahanpeyma; Sandor Baranya; Alexander Anatol Ermilov; Flora Pomazi; Anna Szollosi; Daniel Gere; Andrea Toldy

Linked Author(s): Sándor Baranya

Keywords: Microplastics; Microplastic identification; Microplastic characterization; Aquatic environment; Plastic pollution

Abstract: Plastic production and use have been an inseparable part of people's daily lives for many years. Although plastic production caused significant development in the industry, these materials have also caused irreversible damage to the environment and ecosystem. Nowadays, it is observed that plastic wastes (bottles, bags, etc. ) are left in the environment or buried in the soil due to a lack of proper waste management. Considering most plastics are non-biodegradable, they degrade over time and are broken down into smaller pieces for mostly physical processes (e. g., exposure to UV radiation, etc. ). Particles smaller than 5 mm are known as microplastics. The degradation of larger plastics into microparticles not only cause environmental pollution problems, but also has irreparable consequences for the environment, the health of flora and fauna, and even soil. Due to their small size, these particles are easily spread in the environment and enter the bodies of fauna - particularly aquatic species and humans - via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal absorption, causing a variety of digestive diseases, lung diseases, various types of cancer, and even death. Also, these particles enter the sewage water and spread into other aquatic environments in various forms. For example, factories' wastewater usually contains microplastic pellets, cosmetics products often contain microbeads, whereas laundry wastewater (especially in the case of hospitals and hotels) contains fibers. Given the negative effects of these particles, it is necessary to control and eliminate them from the environment. However, researchers have very limited knowledge both on the amount and the composition of this kind of contaminant in the fluvial systems. As the second largest river in Europe, and the most international river in the world, the Danube River is also exposed to microplastic pollution. To have a better understanding of the typical physical features of microplastics in the Hungarian section of the river, we perform an expeditionary field campaign and thorough laboratory analysis. In the study, a so-called multi-level manta net is applied for sampling the water column, which is followed by suitable laboratory pre-treatment for extracting microplastic particles from collected river samples. Furthermore, methods such as Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman spectroscopy, digital microscopy, as well as techniques used in sedimentation engineering were applied to assess the mass-flux, material composition, and characteristic sizes of the microplastic pollution. A first attempt to quantify microplastic loads in the Hungarian Danube is also provided.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3850/978-90-833476-1-5_iahr40wc-p0735-cd

Year: 2023