WITHDRAWN: Microplastic accumulation in aquatic insects of different feeding guilds collected from wastewater in Sohag Governorate, Egypt

DOI: https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-2124413/v2

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs) have been detected in many freshwater organisms because of increasing plastic contamination within the freshwater environment. However, the correlation between MPs in organisms and their surrounding environment still needs studies. This study investigates MP contamination in one of the wastewater ponds east of Sohag Governorate, Egypt. Four common freshwater insect families representing different feeding guilds were employed to detect MPs contamination.

Introduction

An increase in the consumption of plastic products, poor management, and mistaken disposal of products in the environment might produce significant effects on human health and wild organisms [1]. It has been estimated that between 1.15 and 2.41 million tonnes of plastic are discharged into Oceans [2]. With time, the aged plastic particles are fragmented into smaller particles termed micro/nano plastics. MPs are one of the most frequent emergent contaminants that might introduce a huge hazard to aquatic ecosystems [3,4]. Early studies described MPs as "plastic particles with a size of less than 5 mm"[5]. MPs in the environment come from two main types of sources which lead to different sizes of plastic particles: one is the primary source and another is the secondary source [6]. Primary MPs could also be manufactured for indirect use as precursors or direct use as microbeads in care and cosmetic products [7]. 

Materials And Methods

2.1. Study area 

  The current study was carried out in the lowland desert area, south of the Akhmim EL cola wastewater Project which is located about 14.6 km east of Sohag city (26º 33̀04˝ N and 31º50̀  55˝ E). 

 

2.2. Sample collection 

    All samples were collected in July 2020, and three sampling points along the edge of the pond (One sampling point was taken from the beginning of the pond, another from its middle, and the last from the end of the pond) were chosen to give a representative picture of MPs contamination in the pond. 

Results

 3.1 The abundance of MPs in sediment and water.

    Both sediment and water were contaminated with MPs. The content of collected MPs sediment (470 ± 70 particles/ Kg dry weight) showed a higher abundance than those in water (3.4 ± 0.9 particles / L). Regarding shape of MPs, fiber was the most dominant shape in both water and sediment samples being (92% and 89% respectively). 

Discussion

       The aim of this study was to demonstrate the abundance and variety of MPs in water and sediment in one of the wastewater ponds in Sohag Governorate, Egypt. MP contents were also determined in different insects for showing how MP reflects within different taxonomic and feeding groups of aquatic insects. The results showed high concentrations of MPs in the sediment (470 ± 70 particles/kg dry weight). However, only 3.4 ± 0.9 particles/L were detected in the water. This suggests that most of the MPs were sedimenting out from the water column as the water in the present pond is stagnant and there was no chance for MPs to be in suspension [49,50].

Conclusion

A study of the aquatic insect community of the east wastewater pond in Sohag Governorate showed an accumulation of MP contamination in all insects tested with different feeding guilds. 

Declarations

Ethics approval and consent to participate

Not Applicable.

Consent for publication

The authors of this manuscript consent to Springer journal policies for publication.

Availability of data and materials

All data analyzed in this manuscript are included in the published article.

Competing interests

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Authors' information

1Zoology Department, Faculty of Science, Sohag University (82524), Sohag, Egypt

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