Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastic pollution in surface sediments along the coastal areas of Istanbul, Turkey

Hanife Sari Erkan; Betul Takatas; Alihan Ozturk; Sedat Gündogdu; Fatih Aydın; Latife Koker; Oguz Kaan Ozdemir; Meric Albay; Guleda Onkal Engin

doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115461

Spatio-temporal distribution of microplastic pollution in surface sediments along the coastal areas of Istanbul, Turkey

Mar Pollut Bull. 2023 Oct:195:115461. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115461. Epub 2023 Aug 31.

Authors

Hanife Sari Erkan¹, Betul Takatas², Alihan Ozturk³, Sedat Gündogdu⁴, Fatih Aydın⁵, Latife Koker⁵, Oguz Kaan Ozdemir⁶, Meric Albay⁵, Guleda Onkal Engin²

Affiliations

¹ Yildiz Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Davutpasa, Esenler, 34220 Istanbul, Turkiye. Electronic address: hsari@yildiz.edu.tr.
² Yildiz Technical University, Civil Engineering Faculty, Environmental Engineering Department, Davutpasa, Esenler, 34220 Istanbul, Turkiye.
³ Yildiz Technical University, Control and Automation Engineering Department, 34349 Istanbul, Turkiye.
⁴ Cukurova University, Faculty of Fisheries, Department of Basic Sciences, 01330 Adana, Turkiye.
⁵ Istanbul University, Faculty of Aquatic Sciences, Department of Freshwater Resources and Management, Istanbul, Turkiye.
⁶ Yıldız Technical University, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, 34220 İstanbul, Turkiye.

PMID: 37659384
DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2023.115461

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have become prevalent in various environmental compartments, including air, water, and soil, attracting attention as significant pollutant parameters. This study investigated the prevalence of MP pollution in surface sediments along Istanbul's Marmara Sea, encompassing the megacity and the Bosphorus. A comprehensive sampling approach was employed, covering 43 stations across four seasons and depths ranging from 5 to 70 m. The objective was to assess the impact of terrestrial, social, and industrial activities on MPs. The average concentrations varied per season, with fall, winter, spring, and summer values recorded as 2000 ± 4100, 1600 ± 3900, 4300 ± 12,000, and 9500 ± 20,300 particles/kg-DW. The study identified river stations in the Golden Horn and sea discharge locations as hotspots for high concentrations. Notably, the dominant shape shifted from fibers in fall, winter, and spring to fragments during summer, coinciding with mucilage occurrences. The study identified 11 different polymers, with polyethylene (44 %) and polypropylene (31 %) being the most common.

Keywords: Golden Horn; Istanbul; Marmara Sea; Mega-city; Microplastics; Spatio-temporal distribution; Surface sediment.