Urban runoff

Ecology

Biology

Pollution

Materials science

Watershed

Fishery

Archaeology

Range (aeronautics)

Computer science

Surface runoff

Human settlement

Geology

Oceanography

Plastic pollution

Microplastics

Geography

Environmental science

Composite material

Environmental protection

Stormwater

Machine learning

The Science of The Total Environment

Microplastics (MPs) on lakes have been reported mainly from Europe, Asia, and North America. Then, this study aimed to address the quantification and identification of MPs in nine lakes from the Argentine Patagonian Region. Blue colored fibers were dominant, with a size range between 0.2 and <0.4 mm. The mean MPs concentration was 0.9 ± 0.6 MPs m-3, suggesting a low pollution state when compared to other worldwide lakes. Raman microscopy analysis showed a predominance of Indigo Blue Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particles. The upper-gradient runoff from urban settlements, textiles, and fisheries were identified as the main MPs sources and levels positively correlated with the higher area, shallower depth, and with an end-position in the watershed. These findings fill a gap in the geographical distribution knowledge, setting a baseline that emphasizes the need for better treatment of urban and fisheries wastes in continental lakes.

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