Risk assessment of cigarette butts and microplastic pollution in a drinking and irrigation water basin of West Anatolia, Türkiye

Abstract

Abstract Cigarette butts (CBs) and Microplastics (MPs) have serious harmful effects on the environment and living organisms despite their small size. This research aims to investigate the abundance and pollution status of CBs and MPs in Tahtalı Dam Basin (West Anatolia, Türkiye). Main tributaries of the basin are Balaban Lake and Balaban Stream, which are the most important drinking and irrigation water resources of the basin. CBs and MPs sampling were made from the coastal sediment of Balaban Lake and riverbank of Balaban Stream. Clean Environment Index (CEI) and Cigarette Butt Pollution Index (CBPI) were used to determine pollution degree of the basin. MP particles were examined both visually and spectrophotometrically. While the total number of CBs were 1.478 items, the total number of MPs were 477 items/m2 in the basin. As a result of this study, MP particles weren’t found in Balaban Stream. Highest number of MP particles observed in 100–250 µm (45%) size class. The most abundant MP type and colour were, fragment (54%) and white (42%), respectively. Polyethylene terephthalate (50%) was the most abundant type of polymer according to the ATR- FTIR analysis. As a result of the CEI and CBPI, the upstream stations of the stream were classified as “clean” status, while downstream sampling points of the stream and Balaban Lake coasts were classified as “extremely dirty” status.