Microplastic Pollution in the Surface Waters from Plain and Mountainous Lakes in Siberia, Russia

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) contaminations of freshwater and marine environments has become a global issue. Lakes in southern Siberia provide a wide range of ecosystem services and are essential elements in the annual and interannual runoff distribution of the Great Siberian Rivers. However, the extent of their MPs pollution remains unknown. In this paper, for the first time, we analyze the concentrations, composition, and spatial distribution of MPs in six lakes in southern Siberia. The studied lakes are located both in the Altai mountains and the West Siberian plain. Some of them are significantly impacted by human activities, while others are located in protected areas with no permanent population. Nevertheless, MPs were detected in all of the studied lakes. MPs concentrations ranged from 4 to 26 MPs L−1. Comparing with other inland lakes, South Siberian lakes presented moderate MPs concentrations. Among the registered MPs forms, fragments and films were dominant, with a size range between 31 and 60 nm. The MPs’ sources depend on local human activities (fishing, transport, landfilling). Therefore, sufficiently high concentrations were observed even in remote lakes. The present study set a baseline that emphasizes the need for increased attention to waste management and sustainable water use in Siberian freshwater environments.

High-mountain lakes as indicators of microplastic pollution: current and future perspectives

“…A similar range (5.4-1292 items/m 2 ) was found in Qinghai Lake (Tibetan Plateau, China) by Xiong et al [57] . Greater abundance (mean value: 2644 items/kg) was reported by Liang et al [64] , who also measured MP occurrence in 12 lakes of the Tibetan Plateau.…”

“…Neelavannan et al [62] reported that the most frequent MP size in the sediment samples from Anchar Lake (Himalaya) ranged between 300 and 1000 μm. Smaller particles (ranging 50-500 μm) were reported in sediment samples by Liang et al [64] in 12 remote lakes of the Tibetan Plateau. The same results were shared by Xiong et al [57] who reported MPs ranging in size between 100 and 500 μm in both water and sediment samples from the high-altitude Qinghai Lake (China) and by Negrete Velasco et al [61] for Sassolo Lake (Switzerland), who recorded particles ranging in size between 125 and 500 μm.…”

“…The major mechanisms for MP occurrence in the remote, high-mountain Dimon Lake are thought to be atmospheric depositions [13] . Liang et al [64] suggested that atmospheric long-range transport, glacial meltwater, and surface runoff are potential pathways for carrying MPs from elsewhere to remote lakes in Tibet. Microplastics were detected in Lake Crater (Turkey), which is far from settlement sites [67] ; because of their low specific density, they are transported to higher altitudes via wind currents, and then settle over sediments during precipitation events [51] .…”

Microplastics in Water Bodies and in the Environment

“…This Special Issue includes studies from different parts of the world, i.e., Russia [2], India [3], and Mediterranean Regions such as Italy [4], Greece [5], and Cyprus [6]. These are mainly baseline studies that monitor microplastics in different areas.…”

“…There seems to be a trend of correlating the concentration of microplastics with surrounding land uses. Nevertheless, it seems that microplastics are present in all areas even in remote rural ones [2,3], as well as in agricultural lands [5]. However, the presence of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the vicinity seems to play a crucial role in the concentration of microplastics in a lake [4].…”