Spatial variations of microplastics of the rivers discharging to the southern Caspian Sea

The occurrence of microplastics in beach sediments of the southern Caspian Sea was well documented, however, there are still many unknowns about the abundances and distributions of microplastics in the rivers ending to the Caspian Sea. Here, bank sediments of ۲۶ sites in the thirteen rivers were surveyed in two seasons. However, there was not any significant difference (p > ۰.۰۵) between the concentrations of microplastics during the two seasons. Microplastics were detected in all samples with mean concentrations of ۲۱۴.۰۸ ۱۴.۳۵ microplastics/kg. The most common size, shape, color, and polymer types of MPs were L< ۳۰۰µm, fragment/film, white/transparent, and polystyrene (PS), respectively. Recreational-tourism and fishing activities had significant positive relationships (p < ۰.۰۵) with concentration of microplastics in the rivers.

کلیدواژه ها:

Microplastics ، River sediments ، Reduction strategies ، Caspian Sea