Microplastic on Mountain Trails—a Case Study from the Carpathian and Sudetes Mountains in Poland

Abstract

Microplastics are becoming an increasingly common pollutant that can pose a threat to living organisms. The aim of this research was to determine the amount, type, and diversity of microplastics along mountain trails. The study includes three mountain trails, differing in terms of length, difficulty, and number of visitors. The trails were located in the massif of Babia Góra, in the Kościeliska Valley, and Izerska Meadow. During the research, microplastics were determined in snow during the winter period. The research shows high microplastic contamination along the trails. The study area was characterized by the highest content of polyurethane, polyethylene terephthalate, polyethylene, and polypropylene. The tiniest plastic below 0.5 mm dominated in all the sampling points, with a small share of sizes within the range of 3.1–4.0 mm and 4.1–5.0 mm. The isolated microplastics varied in color and shape. The conducted analyses confirm that easier, more frequented trails are characterized by a higher content of microplastics. Trails to Babia Góra, which are more demanding, are characterized by a different composition of microplastics as well as a variety of microplastics in terms of size, shape, and color. In addition, the lower-lying fragments of the examined trails were the most heavily contaminated with microplastics. The results indicate the need for further research on microplastic contamination of the soil environment along mountain trails.