Microplastic Concentrations in Some Rivers and Reservoirs in Southern Russia

The study is aimed at assessing the concentrations of microplastics in rivers and reservoirs of the south of the European part of Russia. The following water bodies were studied: the Lower Don, Lower Volga, Seversky Donets, Tsimlyansk, Karpovka, Bereslavska and Varvara reservoirs. The work was carried out using various methods, so the data on particle concentrations in different years vary depending on the sampling method, but the main patterns of spatial distribution associated with a high accumulation of particles in anthropogenically transformed areas, tributaries, and pools of hydraulic structures are traced. In 2023, the following concentrations were found: In the Don - 94.32 pcs/m3, in the Volga - 81.06, in the Tsimlyansk reservoir - 12.3 pcs/m3. In 2021, the content in the Lower Don was 36 pcs/l, Tsimlyansk reservoir - 33, Seversky Donets - 38 pcs/l. In 2022, 21 pcs/l of particles were found in the Lower Don, 10 pcs/l in the Tsimlyansk Reservoir, and 16 pcs/l in the Lower Volga. In the reservoirs of the Volga-Don Shipping Canal - from 11 to 19 pcs/l. Most of the detected particles are transparent small fibers, whose composition is determined as polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate.