Investigation of airborne microplastic particle pollution on the Asian side of Istanbul by lichen biomonitoring

Ecological problems such as air pollution arise due to microplastic particles created by plastics. Microplastic particles are the result of external factors such as UV rays in the sun. Therefore, it is necessary to know the density of microplastics in the air by the lichen bioysing method. In the light of this information, microplastic particles with lichens used since ancient times in the world were investigated as bioindicator properties. Xanthoria parietina lichen species collected from İstanbul Asian side Aydos Forest, Başıbüyük Forest, Kayışdağı Forest, Büyükada, Kanlıca Forest, Goztepe Nature Park, Elmasburnu Nature Park, Şile, Küçük Çamlıca Hill, Büyük Çamlıca Hill and Gözdağı Grove regions and the activities of ATR-FTIR and fluorescence microscopy techniques of microplastic particles in the air were examined. Aldehyde, alkene, alcohol, amine, ether, hydrocarbon, hydroxide, ketone, sulfur dioxide, methyl, methylene and nitrogen dioxide compounds were determined by the ATRFTIR technique. Compounds such as hydrocarbons and aldehydes have been found to be compounds that are in the chemical structures of microplastics. In fluorescence painting technique, lichen samples were painted with Nile Red fluorescent dye and examined under fluorescence microscope. The results showed that microplastic particles were present in the air in all parts of the Asian coast of İstanbul and the bio-monitoring potential for Xanthoria parietina species was also high. Thus, information on the determination of pollutants such as microplastics in the air was obtained by lichen bio-monitoring method.