Investigation of microplastic pollution in Samsun east advanced biological wastewater treatment plant

Environmental pollution occurs as a result of the use of plastic, which continues to increase worldwide. Oceans and seas are also greatly affected by environmental pollution caused by plastic waste. Many researches and solution proposals continue to be made and presented every day to solve the plastic pollution problem. Microplastics (<5mm), one of the causes of plastic pollution, cause serious damage to the environment, living health and ecosystem. Microplastics can cause harm, especially when they pass into the living body through water. Studies have shown that microplastics, which can reach the leaves of plants, cause damage. For this reason, microplastics should be examined, problems should be determined and solutions should be offered. Special methods are used for the study and analysis of microplastics. Microplastics, which can be examined with the help of a microscope due to their size, can be analyzed and classified by many parameters (such as microplastic size, water color). The aim of this study is, to examine and evaluate the microplastic-induced pollution in Samsun East Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant, and to offer solutions for eliminating or reducing the pollution. In this context, firstly, water samples taken from the entrance and exit of Samsun East Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant were examined. Optical microscope observation was used for the detection of microplastics. As another measurement, the polymer types in the samples taken by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy were determined. At the same time, parameters affecting water pollution such as temperature, pH, electrical potential, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS), salinity, chlorophyll-a, dissolved oxygen, suspended solids (SS), total organic carbon (TOC) can be measured. In this study, the presence of microplastic colors in red, blue, green, orange and black colors was determined. Polystyrene (PS), Polypropylene (PP), Polyethylene (PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) and Polyethylene Terephthalate Ester (PETE) polymer types were detected in the samples taken from the determined points after FTIR analysis. According to the results obtained in the study, the current situation of microplastics in Samsun East Advanced Biological Wastewater Treatment Plant was determined, and suggestions were made to minimize the possible negative effects by evaluating their effects on the ecosystem.