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Spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of microplastics in Lake Ulansuhai during the spring
Received:April 16, 2021  
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KeyWord:microplastics;Lake Ulansuhai;regularities of distribution;influencing factor
Author NameAffiliationE-mail
WANG Zhichao School of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, China  
YANG Jianlin School of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, China  
YANG Fan School of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, China  
LI Weiping School of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, China sjlwp@163.com 
YANG Wenhuan School of Energy and Environment, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou 014010, China  
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Abstract:
      This study identified the abundance, color, shape, and species of microplastics in different horizontal and vertical directions during the spring by stratified sampling, microscopic observations, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and the analysis of influencing factors of the microplastics distribution discrepancy in different seasons combined with the local environment, in order to explore the spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of microplastics in Lake Ulansuhai during spring. The results showed different microplastics abundances in Lake Ulansuhai before and after the ice-sealing period, representing an opposite distribution pattern. The abundance of microplastics was 4.8~19.0 n·L-1 and 4.6~16.3 n·L-1 in the surface and the middle water layer of Lake Ulansuhai during spring. The average abundance of microplastics in the surface layer was approximately 1.4 times higher than that in the middle layer. The microplastics in the surface water were mainly fiber-shaped(46.6%), while in the middle layer mainly debris-shaped(53.2%). The main microplastic components were polyethylene(PE), polystyrene(PS), and polybutylene terephthalate(PET), with generally higher PE and PS content in the surface water than in the middle water layer, while the PET was more lavish in the middle water layer. The vertical distribution of microplastics in the water was affected by complex factors and the density of the microplastics was the main reason that affected the settlement rate. The shape and size of the microplastics, just as well as their biological effect would also change their density, thereby affecting their sedimentation.