The presence of microplastics in Baran’s newt (Neurergus barani Öz, 1994) and the spotted newt (Neurergus strauchii Steindachner, 1887)

• Published in: Environmental science and pollution research international 2024-09, Vol.31 (44), p.55974-55983
• Main Authors: Dursun, Cantekin, Karaoğlu, Kaan, Avcı, Aziz, Gül, Serkan, Özdemir, Nurhayat, Üzüm, Nazan, Olgun, Kurtuluş
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: altitude; Aquatic Pollution; Atmospheric Protection/Air Quality Control/Air Pollution; Body length; Body size; digestive tract; Earth and Environmental Science; Ecotoxicology; Endemic species; Environment; Environmental Chemistry; Environmental Health; freshwater; Gastrointestinal system; Gastrointestinal tract; High altitude; Marine pollution; Microplastics; Neurergus; Plastic debris; Plastic pollution; pollutants; pollution; Pollution control; Pollution detection; Polyethylene terephthalate; polyethylene terephthalates; Polymers; Research Article; salamanders and newts; species; Terrestrial environments; Waste Water Technology; Water conservation; Water Management; Water Pollution Control
• ISSN: 1614-7499; 0944-1344; 1614-7499
• DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-34927-x

Microplastics (MPs), tiny plastic particles less than 5 mm in size, have emerged as a common and worrying pollutant in marine, freshwater, and terrestrial environments worldwide. In this study, we revealed the microplastic exposure of two endemic newt species for Türkiye. We found that polyethylene terephthalate (PET) was the predominant microplastic polymer type in both species, with the blue fiber shape in particular. We also found that there was a negative correlation between microplastic size and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) weight, but there was no significant difference between body length and GIT weight of both species. Our findings might be surprising as the studied species live in natural spring waters in remote, high-altitude areas. However, the detection of water bottles in their habitats appears to be the reason for their exposure to microplastic pollution. Therefore, reducing the use of single-use plastics is predicted to contribute to the conservation of these endemic newts.