First evidence of microplastics in nine lakes across Patagonia (South America)

Microplastics (MPs) on lakes have been reported mainly from Europe, Asia, and North America. Then, this study aimed to address the quantification and identification of MPs in nine lakes from the Argentine Patagonian Region. Blue colored fibers were dominant, with a size range between 0.2 and <0.4...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Alfonso, María Belén, Facundo, Scordo, Seitz, Carina, Mavo Manstretta, Gian Marco, Ronda, Ana Carolina, Arias, Andres Hugo, Tomba, Juan Pablo, Silva, Leonel Ignacio, Perillo, Gerardo Miguel E., Piccolo, Maria Cintia
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2020
País:Argentina
Institución:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repositorio:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/142431
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/142431
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:LAKES
MICROPLASTICS
PATAGONIAN REGION
POLLUTION
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Descripción
Sumario:Microplastics (MPs) on lakes have been reported mainly from Europe, Asia, and North America. Then, this study aimed to address the quantification and identification of MPs in nine lakes from the Argentine Patagonian Region. Blue colored fibers were dominant, with a size range between 0.2 and <0.4 mm. The mean MPs concentration was 0.9 ± 0.6 MPs m−3, suggesting a low pollution state when compared to other worldwide lakes. Raman microscopy analysis showed a predominance of Indigo Blue Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles. The upper-gradient runoff from urban settlements, textiles, and fisheries were identified as the main MPs sources and levels positively correlated with the higher area, shallower depth, and with an end-position in the watershed. These findings fill a gap in the geographical distribution knowledge, setting a baseline that emphasizes the need for better treatment of urban and fisheries wastes in continental lakes.