In recent years, it has been established that microplastics are distributed all over the world and the source of this material can be both on land and in the ocean. The majority of these are microplastics from land-based sources such as industry, treatment plants, landfills and other improperly recycled or discarded plastics. Once in natural water systems, most of them enter the oceans via rivers, while the rest remain in freshwater environments, including even such isolated water systems as remote mountain lakes. These particles can cause various harmful effects on ecosystems, pose a threat to living organisms.
In recent years, microplastics have been found to be widespread around the world, and the source of the material can be both on land and in the ocean. The majority of microplastics come from land-based sources such as industry, sewage treatment plants, landfills and other plastics that are not recycled or discarded properly. Once in natural water systems, most of them end up in the oceans via rivers, while the rest remain in freshwater environments, including even isolated water systems such as remote mountain lakes. These particles can have a wide range of effects on ecosystems and threaten living organisms. There is still debatable what quantities of microplastics accumulate in animals and what effects these pollutants can have on organisms.
The PhD research will include chemical analysis of water and bottom sediments in water bodies, detection and identification of microplastic particles by spectrometry and other techniques. The pathways and emission sources of microplastics will be assessed. The contamination of aquatic organisms with microplastic particles and potential toxic effects will also be investigated.