Microplastic Pollution in the Surface Waters from Plain and Mountainous Lakes in Siberia, Russia

Microplastics (MPs) contaminations of freshwater and marine environments has become a global issue. Lakes in southern Siberia provide wide range ecosystem services are essential elements the annual interannual runoff distribution Great Siberian Rivers. However, extent their MPs pollution remains unknown. In this paper, for first time, we analyze concentrations, composition, spatial six lakes Siberia. The studied located both Altai mountains West plain. Some them significantly impacted by human activities, while others protected areas with no permanent population. Nevertheless, were detected all lakes. concentrations ranged from 4 to 26 L−1. Comparing other inland lakes, South presented moderate concentrations. Among registered forms, fragments films dominant, size between 31 60 nm. MPs’ sources depend on local activities (fishing, transport, landfilling). Therefore, sufficiently high observed even remote present study set baseline that emphasizes need increased attention waste management sustainable water use environments.