Microplastics in the Danube River and Its Main Tributaries—Ingestion by Freshwater Macroinvertebrates
2024
Authors:
Stanković, JelenaMilošević, Đurađ
Paunović, Momir
Jovanović, Boris
Popović, Nataša
Tomović, Jelena
Atanacković, Ana
Radulović, Katarina
Lončarević, Davor
Raković, Maja
Document Type:
Article (Published version)
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract:
This study was carried out at the Danube River and its tributaries during the Joint Danube
Survey 4 (JDS4) expedition. Three freshwater benthic species were used to estimate the quantity
of microplastics (MPs): Corbicula spp., Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri (Claparede, 1862), and Polypedilum
nubeculosum (Meigen, 1804). Following the kick and sweep technique, individuals were sampled using
a hand net or dredge. In order to estimate the number of MP particles/individual particles/g wet
body mass, the body mass and total length of all specimens were measured. Alkaline (Corbicula spp.
and L. hoffmaisteri) and enzymatic (P. nubeculosum) protocols were performed for tissue degradation.
All samples were filtered through glass microfiber filters (mesh size 0.5 μm). The particles were
photographed, measured, and counted. A total of 1904, 169, and 204 MPs were isolated from
Corbicula spp., L. hoffmaisteri, and P. nubeculosum, respectively. To confirm the chemical composition
of isolated MPs, a subsample of 46 particles of the fragmented particles from 14 sampling sites was
analysed via μ-ATR-FTIR spectroscopy analysis. The particles were characterised as polycarbonate
(PC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polypropylene–polyethylene copolymer (PP-PE), nylon
(polyamide-PA) and cellophane, with the domination of PET.
Keywords:
microplastic; pollution; Danube River; macroinvertebrates; μFTIR spectroscopySource:
Water, 2024, 16, 7, 962-Funding / projects:
- Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia, institutional funding - 200007 (University of Belgrade, Institute for Biological Research 'Siniša Stanković') (RS-MESTD-inst-2020-200007)