Presence of microplastics in the groundwater of volcanic islands, El Hierro and La Palma (Canary Islands)

  1. Rodríguez-Alcántara, Joselin S. 1
  2. Contreras-Llin, Albert
  3. Cruz-Pérez, Noelia 1
  4. García-Gil, Alejandro
  5. Baquedano, Carlos
  6. Marazuela, Miguel Ángel
  7. Diaz-Cruz, M. Silvia
  8. León, Jorge Martínez
  9. Santamarta, Juan C. 1
  1. 1 Universidad de La Laguna
    info

    Universidad de La Laguna

    San Cristobal de La Laguna, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01r9z8p25

Revista:
Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

ISSN: 0169-7722

Año de publicación: 2024

Volumen: 263

Páginas: 104340

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1016/J.JCONHYD.2024.104340 GOOGLE SCHOLAR lock_openAcceso abierto editor

Otras publicaciones en: Journal of Contaminant Hydrology

Resumen

The increasing amount of plastic litter worldwide is a serious problem for the environment and its biodiversity, ecosystems, animal and human welfare and the economy. The degradation of these plastics leads to microplastics (MPs), which have been reported for the first time in groundwater in the Canary archipelago. This research investigates the presence of MPs at nine different points on La Palma and El Hierro, where samples were collected in galleries, wells and springs during the month of December 2022. Six different polymers were found with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) – polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), cellulose (CEL), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The particle concentrations found ranged from 1 to 23 n/L, with a maximum particle size of 1900 μm, the smallest being 35 μm. PP and PE were the most common polymers found in the analysis, associated with the use of packaging, disposable products, textiles and water pipes, related to poorly maintained sewerage networks where leaks occur, allowing these MPs to escape into the environment and end up in groundwater. The detection of microplastic pollution in groundwater emphasises environmental hazards, including biodiversity disruption and water source contamination. Additionally, it presents potential risks to human health by transferring contaminants into the food chain and through respiratory exposure.

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