title: High-levels of microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake.
abstract: Despite the large and growing literature on microplastics in the ocean, little information exists on microplastics in freshwater systems. This study is the first to evaluate the abundance, distribution, and composition of pelagic microplastic pollution in a large, remote, mountain lake. We quantified pelagic microplastics and shoreline anthropogenic debris in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia. With an average microplastic density of 20,264 particles km(-2), Lake Hovsgol is more heavily polluted with microplastics than the more developed Lakes Huron and Superior in the Laurentian Great Lakes. Fragments and films were the most abundant microplastic types; no plastic microbeads and few pellets were observed. Household plastics dominated the shoreline debris and were comprised largely of plastic bottles, fishing gear, and bags. Microplastic density decreased with distance from the southwestern shore, the most populated and accessible section of the park, and was distributed by the prevailing winds. These results demonstrate that without proper waste management, low-density populations can heavily pollute freshwater systems with consumer plastics.
authors: Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 71 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Electronic address: cfree@marine.rutgers.edu.
authors: Christopher M
authors: CM
authors: Free
authors: Institute of Marine and Coastal Sciences, Rutgers University, 71 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA.
authors: Olaf P
authors: OP
authors: Jensen
authors: Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College at Fredonia, 280 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA.
authors: Sherri A
authors: SA
authors: Mason
authors: 5 Gyres Institute, 2122 S. Spaulding Avenue, Los Angeles, CA 90016, USA.
authors: Marcus
authors: M
authors: Eriksen
authors: Department of Chemistry, State University of New York College at Fredonia, 280 Central Avenue, Fredonia, NY 14063, USA.
authors: Nicholas J
authors: NJ
authors: Williamson
authors: Department of Biology, School of Arts and Sciences, National University of Mongolia, Ulaanbaatar 14201, Mongolia.
authors: Bazartseren
authors: B
authors: Boldgiv
mesh_terms: D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D004787:Environmental Pollution / Q000032:analysis*; D005843:Geography; D060106:Lakes; D008986:Mongolia; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis*; D012037:Refuse Disposal; D014866:Waste Products / Q000032:analysis*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*; D014919:Wind
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014866:Waste Products; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Aquatic pollution; Lake Hovsgol; Lake Khubsugul; Lake Khuvsgul; Microplastics; Plastic pollution