First evidence of microplastics in nine lakes across Patagonia (South America)

ALFONSO, MARÍA BELÉN; SCORDO, FACUNDO; SEITZ, CARINA; MAVO MANSTRETTA, GIAN MARCO; RONDA, ANA CAROLINA; ARIAS, ANDRÉS HUGO; TOMBA, JUAN PABLO; SILVA, LEONEL IGNACIO; PERILLO, GERARDO MIGUEL EDUARDO; PICCOLO, MARÍA CINTIA

THE SCIENCE OF TOTAL ENVIRONMENT

ELSEVIER

Lugar: AMSTERDAM; Año: 2020 vol. 733

0048-9697

Microplastics (MPs) on lakes have been reported mainly from Europe, Asia, and North America. Then, this studyaimed to address the quantification and identification ofMPs in nine lakes fromthe Argentine Patagonian Region.Blue colored fiberswere dominant,with a size range between 0.2 and b0.4mm. The meanMPs concentrationwas0.9 ± 0.6 MPs m−3, suggesting a low pollution state when compared to other worldwide lakes. Raman microscopyanalysis showed a predominance of Indigo Blue Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles. The uppergradientrunoff fromurban settlements, textiles, and fisherieswere identified as the main MPs sources and levelspositively correlated with the higher area, shallower depth, and with an end-position in the watershed. Thesefindings fill a gap in the geographical distribution knowledge, setting a baseline that emphasizes the need for bettertreatment of urban and fisheries wastes in continental lakes.