Concentration of Microparticles in Lakes Reflect Nearby Human Activity and Land Use
Study suggests microparticle pollution in European lakes higher than previously reported
Predicting where anthropogenic debris accumulates in aquatic ecosystems is necessary for its control and environmental remediation, but plastic and fibre pollution in lakes is not well studied. A study published in PLOS Biology by Andrew Tanentzap at University of Cambridge, United Kingdom and colleagues suggests that microparticle concentrations in lakes are higher than previously reported, and that human activity and surrounding land use may be a strong predictor of microplastics and anthropogenic fibre lake pollution.
Plastic microparticles may be ingested by a range of animals including large vertebrates and can deteriorate water quality. However, little is known about how human activity affects the concentration of microparticles in lakes. In order to better understand the accumulation of plastic and fiber particles in lakes, researchers trawled the surface waters of 67 European lakes between April and September 2019, spanning 30° in a range of environments. They then analysed the water quality and estimated the total mass of microparticles per lake using collected samples, water runoff data, and the estimated daily plastics generation for the surrounding area of each lake. The authors then fitted a model with their field data as well as synthesised, published data from over 2,100 net tows.
The authors found that concentration of water microparticles quadrupled in areas with more human activity and doubled in areas with lower forest cover. The study was limited in that researchers excluded macroparticles greater than 5 mm which can still be harmful to the environment, which may have led to an underestimation of plastic accumulation. Future studies are needed to refine the model with more contextualized data points, such as watershed slope and spatial orientation.
According to the authors, “Our study provides a valuable evidence base to help prioritise monitoring and mitigation of anthropogenic debris in the world’s lakes. As anthropogenic debris continues to pollute the environment, our data will help contextualise future work, and our models can inform control and remediation efforts”.
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