gesjGEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITYGEOGRAPHY, ENVIRONMENT, SUSTAINABILITY2071-93882542-1565Russian Geographical Society10.24057/2071-9388-2021-041gesj-2060Research ArticleRESEARCH PAPERСтатьиMicroplastic Abundance In Volga River: Results Of A Pilot Study In Summer 2020LisinaAnastasia A.

Department of Land Hydrology

PlatonovMaxim M.

Moscow

LomakovOleg I.

Moscow

SazonovAlexey A.

Department of Land Hydrology

ShishovaTatiana V.

Moscow

BerkovichAnna K.

Faculty of Chemistry, Polymer Department

FrolovaNatalia L.

Department of Land Hydrology

Lomonosov Moscow State University, Faculty of GeographyRussian FederationNon-Profit Foundation Clean Hands, Clean RiversRussian FederationLomonosov Moscow State UniversityRussian Federation2021041020211438293Copyright © Lisina A.A., Platonov M.M., Lomakov O.I., Sazonov A.A., Shishova T.V., Berkovich A.K., Frolova N.L., 20212021Lisina A.A., Platonov M.M., Lomakov O.I., Sazonov A.A., Shishova T.V., Berkovich A.K., Frolova N.L.Lisina A.A., Platonov M.M., Lomakov O.I., Sazonov A.A., Shishova T.V., Berkovich A.K., Frolova N.L.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://ges.rgo.ru/jour/article/view/2060

In order to analyze the problem of microplastics pollution a comprehensive environmental survey was conducted along the entire Volga river in summer of 2020. The analysis of 34 water samples allowed us to determine the average concentration of microplastic (MP) in the surface water layer of the Volga river which accounted for 0.90 items/m3 (0.21 mg/m3). MP particles were found in all samples taken. The concentrations ranged from 0.16 to 4.10 items/m3 (from 0.04 mg/m3 to 1.29 mg/m3). The maximum MP concentrations were recorded in large cities downstream of the sewage treatment plants. For Tver, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan and Volgograd they reached 3.77, 1.91,4.10 and 1.34 items/m3 respectively. The key role of large settlements as sources of MP in the Volga water was revealed. The minimum MP concentrations were recorded upstream of the large cities showing relatively stable levels of 0.25 items/m3 (0.05 mg/m3). The lowest MP content (0.16 items/m3) was revealed in the downstream area of the Cheboksary reservoir near Cheboksary. The results of weighing MP particles showed that their average concentration in the Volga water is 0.21 mg/m3. In each of the investigated samples particles of three determined fractions - fragments, fibers and films - were found, however, their ratio was not constant. On average, the proportion of fragments and films in the Volga water was 41% and 37% respectively and share of fibers accounted for 22%.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.