Abstract
Plastic debris occurring in freshwater environments, which can either come from the surrounding terrestrial areas or transported from upstream, has been identified as one of the main sources and routes of plastic pollution in marine systems. The ocean is the final destination of land- based microplastic sources, but compared to marine environments, the occurrence and effects of microplastics in freshwater ecosystems remain largely unknown. A thorough examination of scientific literature on abundance, distribution patterns, and characteristics of microplastics in freshwater environments in Mediterranean tributary rivers has shown a substantial lack of information and the need to apply adequate and uniform measurement methods.
Highlights
Among environmental pollutants, microplastics (MPs) are currently receiving much attention as they have been found in all matrices of aqueous environments and their ingestion by animals has been widely observed [1–4]
The risks related to MPs derive from the multitude of chemical additives contained in the plastic raw materials and from all contaminants [5] absorbed from surrounding media
Most of marine litter and MPs in the sea come from land: the rivers, in particular, are responsible for up to 80% of the plastic load floating on seas all over the world [6]
Summary
Microplastics (MPs) are currently receiving much attention as they have been found in all matrices of aqueous environments and their ingestion by animals has been widely observed [1–4]. Several studies have demonstrated the presence of MPs in freshwater environments, including beaches, surface waters, and sediments of rivers, lakes, and reservoirs [9–18] emphasizing the ubiquity of this form of pollution and the risks to freshwater ecosystems [19]. Smallest fraction considered: range 0.063–0.125 mm Decantation in ZnCl2 solution, filtration, rinse with 98% ethanol; particles recovered on glass Petri dish, examined under a stereomicroscope and measured.
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