Scientific studies on microplastics pollution in Iran: An in-depth review of the published articles. (January 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Razeghi, Nastaran; Hamidian, Amir Hossein; Wu, Chenxi; Zhang, Yu; Yang, Min
• Is Part Of: Marine pollution bulletin. Volume 162(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-01
• Subjects: Iran -- Microplastics (MPs) -- Plastic pollution -- Persian Gulf -- Biota -- Urban dust; Marine pollution -- Periodicals; Marine Biology -- Periodicals; Water Pollution -- Periodicals; Mer -- Pollution -- Périodiques; Publications périodiques; Pollution des mers; Lutte antipollution; Electronic journals; 363.7394
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111901
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0025-326X

Abstract

Abstract: This literature review was conducted to collect present data on microplastics pollution in Iran's ecosystems. Most of the studies performed in aquatic environment were conducted in Persian Gulf & Oman Sea (70%). The Persian Gulf, along with the beaches of Bushehr and Hormozgan Provinces, are the most studied areas. Moreover, most of the studies were conducted in aquatic environments and only four studies were conducted in terrestrial environment (4/42). One study has assessed microplastics in commercial salt and another study has reported the microplastics presence in Iranian bottled mineral water brands. The investigation of microplastics associated with biota was highlighted, customarily for fish species. Microplastics were also present in urban wastewater samples in Sari and Bandar Abbas cities. Three studies were performed in freshwater ecosystems until now (Haraz River, Anzali wetland, and Taleqan dam). The need for further studies in this field still exists, especially in terrestrial and freshwater compartments. Graphical abstract: Unlabelled Image Highlights: This is the first review study on microplastics in Iran. Microplastics are present in urban dust of three cities in Iran (Asaluyeh>Bushehr>Tehran). The highest microplasticsconcentrations in aquatic environments of Iran were found in sediments of Bushehr Province, Persian Gulf. Most of the studies were conducted in marine and three in freshwater ecosystems (Haraz River, Anzali wetland and Taleqan dam). Fiber, polyethylene and white color are the main found particles' shape, polymer type and color of microplastics, respectively.