Title
Occurrence of microplastics and phthalate esters in urban runoff: A focus on the Persian Gulf coastline
Date Issued
01 February 2022
Access level
metadata only access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Hajiouni S.
Mohammadi A.
Ramavandi B.
Arfaeinia H.
Tekle-Röttering A.
Dobaradaran S.
Publisher(s)
Elsevier B.V.
Abstract
Urban runoff seems an obvious pathway for the transfer of microplastics (MPs) and phthalate acid esters (PAEs) from land-based sources to the marine environment; an issue that still lacks attention. This study presents the first results on MP and PAE levels in the urban runoff into the northern part of the Persian Gulf during the dry season. Average concentrations of MPs and PAEs in the urban runoff of eight selected sampling sites (N = 72) along the Bushehr coast were 1.86 items/L and 53.57 μg/L, respectively. MPs with a size range of 500-1000 μm had the highest abundance, and the mean levels of PAEs in MPs were 99.77 μg/g. The results of this study show that urban runoff is a main source of MP and PAE contaminants that are discharged into the Persian Gulf. Therefore, to decrease these pollutants from entering the aquatic environment, decision-makers in the area should consider this problem and stop the direct discharging of urban runoff into water bodies.
Volume
806
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Ciencias del medio ambiente
Subjects
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-85115889671
PubMed ID
Source
Science of the Total Environment
ISSN of the container
00489697
Sponsor(s)
Funding for this research was provided by the Bushehr University of Medical Sciences (grant No. 1061) and it was conducted as a student thesis (Master of Science in Environmental Health and Engineering) by Shamim Hajiouni. The authors would like to express their sincere gratitude for the support of the laboratory staff of Systems Environmental Health and Energy Research Center throughout the research process.
Sources of information:
Directorio de Producción Científica
Scopus