Abstract:
This study presents the results of the first investigation into microplastics in the water of
Sri Lanka’s Kandy Lake. Microplastics (MPs) pose a growing environmental threat due
to their small size (less than 5 mm). Plastic granules can be manufactured or degraded
from larger plastic trash. Microplastic concentrations in freshwater sediments are like
those in the most polluted sea sediments, and are produced by a special biogeochemical
cycle that affects ecosystem health, productivity, and biodiversity. The concentration
of this particle component is important for ecological processes in inland water bodies.
Near the Joy boats service, Hillwood Stream, Near the Malwatta Viharaya, Near the
Mahamaya School, Near the wetland bridge, Near the Buddhist Publication Society and
Outflow of the Kandy Lake and processed for microplastics to assess the presence of
MPs in the Kandy Lake. 21 samples were taken three times, 3 each from one location
and 1L for each sample. Plastic separation was accomplished by density separation using
NaCl followed by wet peroxide digestion, and identified by micro-Raman spectroscopy.
MPs were found in every water sample, and they are widely distributed in the lake.
The main type of polymer found to be low-density polyethylene (41.78 %) and other
microplastic types are Polypropylene, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polystyrene, Polycarbonate
and Polybutylene. The mean microplastic abundance was 3.096 mg/L, ranging from 1.10
– 5.55 mg/L from 136 different polymers. Near the Joy boat service site (5.55 mg/L)
had the highest microplastic because it is in the town and crowded area and Near the
Buddhist Publication Society site had the lowest microplastic abundance because that
place is not a crowded area as other sites. Commonly present microplastic shape was
fragment (69.23 %) because fragmentation causes the particles to break down into ever
smaller pieces. The microplastic’s most prominent color was Black in all the samplings.
Black particles dominate due to styrene-isoprene rubber, PE, and PVC. This study
shows how microplastics are distributed spatially in Kandy Lake.
