Riverine microplastic discharge along the southern Black Sea coast of Türkiye

TERZİ Y., ÖZTÜRK R. Ç., ERYAŞAR A. R., YANDI İ., ŞAHİN A., YILMAZ F., ...Daha Fazla

Environmental Research Letters, cilt.20, sa.2, 2025 (SCI-Expanded) identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 20 Sayı: 2
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1088/1748-9326/adaf47
  • Dergi Adı: Environmental Research Letters
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Agricultural & Environmental Science Database, Aquatic Science & Fisheries Abstracts (ASFA), CAB Abstracts, Compendex, Geobase, INSPEC, Pollution Abstracts, Veterinary Science Database, Directory of Open Access Journals, Civil Engineering Abstracts
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Black Sea, freshwater, marine litter, plastic pollution, riverine discharge
  • Çukurova Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Rivers are critical pathways of microplastic (MP) pollution to marine environments, yet their contributions to the Black Sea remain understudied. This study evaluates the abundance and characteristics (polymer composition, shape, size, and color) of MPs discharged from 29 rivers flowing into the southern Black Sea. Using a plankton net with a 200 μm mesh size, samples were collected from river mouths, revealing an average MP abundance of 9.63 ± 1.27 MP m−3, ranging from 1.03 to 29.8 MP m−3. Eastern Black Sea rivers exhibited significantly higher MP levels (11.0 ± 1.57 MP m−3) compared to western rivers (5.15 ± 1.25 MP m−3). Annual MP discharge to the Black Sea was estimated at 1.49 × 1011 particles. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET, 59.3% ± 2.66%), polyethylene (PE, 20.8% ± 2.04%), and polypropylene (PP, 14.1% ± 2.36%) were the most common polymers, with PET and PE being significantly dominant. MP sizes ranged predominantly between 200-1000 μm, and fibers constituted the majority of shapes (64.1%), followed by fragments (28.3%). White (36.8% ± 1.93%) and transparent (30.9% ± 2.39%) MPs were the most prevalent colors. While no significant differences in MP characteristics were detected between basins (NMDS and ANOSIM), this study emphasizes rivers as major pathways for MP pollution in the Black Sea. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted mitigation strategies to safeguard marine ecosystems and biodiversity.