| Abstract |
Microplastics, which have long been
considered indestructible, have become a paramount issue within the marine
environment. Plastic pollution is the dominant type of anthropogenic debris
that is ubiquitous throughout the marine environment. Recent research show that
80% of the anthropogenic pollution in the oceans is made of plastic pollution.
As plastic decomposes into smaller pieces with various physical factors, toxic
chemicals from it are leached into the sea, harming marine ecosystems. This
leaching and the size of these micro particles are the major threats to the
marine ecosystem and its organisms. When ingested, in addition to blocking the
digestive tracts of marine organisms and causing death, the chemicals released
in the degradation process of microplastics alter genetic material and affect
the quality of the next generation in many species. Moreover, these chemicals
are bioaccumulated throughout the food chain. Bisphenol A, often referred to as
BPA, is an organic compound widely found in plastics. There is no study taking
place in our seas examining the presence and distribution of BPA. However, the
impact of BPA on zooplankton, which is a vital link in the food chain, is well
known.
The spatial and temporal distribution of microplastics and BPA in the water
column in Mersin Bay will be monitored in this study. Additionally in order to
determine the change of land-based BPA contamination input to marine
environment the one year monitoring activity will take place in several rivers
with high flow-rate located in the study area. Monitoring these two parameters
might show a high correlation between the two. By measuring the amount of
microplastics, miscalculations of zooplankton biomass due to the presence of
microplastics will be avoided. By setting up controlled microcosm experiments,
zooplankton species will be exposed to different doses of microplastics and BPA
in their various life stages to determine their impact. These experiments will
be helpful for understanding the tolerance of zooplankton to microplastics and
BPA and figuring out lethal doses. Moreover, due to the exposure of zooplankton
to microplastics and BPA, damage to DNA will also be investigated through the
use of cloned organisms to reduce genetic variation.
These outcomes will help to better understand the current state of microplastic
and BPA pollution in Mersin Bay and to help evaluate other parts of our seas
via risk assessments.
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