A recent study coordinated by the association Mai Mult Verde as part of the “With clean water” program shows how the Danube transports an average of almost 100 tons of plastic annually. This is the largest study of this kind in our country, conducted in five different seasons in three sections of the Danube, writes infoclima.ro.

Danube, in Giurgiu Photo: Hotnews / Clarice Dinu

From thin films to lids or the remains of household appliances, all the evidence points to the need for large-scale monitoring of river flow, as well as assessment of the impact of waste on biodiversity.

The report presents the results of the largest study on the determination of the number of particles of plastic material (micro- and macro-plastic) from the alluvium transported by the waters of the Danube to the territory of Romania.

On average, the Romanian sector of the Danube annually transports 48.5 tons of microplastics and about the same amount of macroplastics. Particles between 5 mm and 2.5 cm in size — macroplastics — are broken down over time by organic materials in the water and turn into microplastics — tiny particles that are hard to see with the naked eye. The largest annual flow was detected at the sampling station of Moldova Viche: from 93 to 100 tons of plastic per year, of which 46-51 tons/year is micro, 47-49 tons/year is macro. At Gruia and Isaccea stations, annual traffic is about 3-4 times lower.

Macroplastics were usually identified on the surface of the water. Identified, among other things, fragments of thin or ultra-thin, translucent and/or porous films, fibers, granules.

Particle analysis led to the identification at all three sampling stations of polyethylene (52-86%), the most popular polymer in all packaging, and polypropylene (12-26%), a material used, for example, in global furniture, and the plastics industry in general.

Polystyrene was isolated, among others, at 1% and 13% in samples taken from Isaccia and Moldova Viche, as well as cellulose and fiber fragments at the station from Isaccia (summer) and Moldova Viche. Polyurethane, which you find in, for example, the sponge you use to wash dishes, was identified as isolated at the Izakcha station during the winter.

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