The increasing amount of plastic litter worldwide is a serious problem for the environment and its biodiversity, ecosystems, animal and human welfare and the economy. The degradation of these plastics leads to microplastics (MPs), which have been reported for the first time in groundwater in the Canary archipelago. This research investigates the presence of MPs at nine different points on La Palma and El Hierro, where samples were collected in galleries, wells and springs during the month of December 2022. Six different polymers were found with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) – polypropylene (PP), polyethylene (PE), cellulose (CEL), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA). The particle concentrations found ranged from 1 to 23 n/L, with a maximum particle size of 1900 μm, the smallest being 35 μm. PP and PE were the most common polymers found in the analysis, associated with the use of packaging, disposable products, textiles and water pipes, related to poorly maintained sewerage networks where leaks occur, allowing these MPs to escape into the environment and end up in groundwater. The detection of microplastic pollution in groundwater emphasises environmental hazards, including biodiversity disruption and water source contamination. Additionally, it presents potential risks to human health by transferring contaminants into the food chain and through respiratory exposure.

中文翻译：

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火山岛、耶罗岛和拉帕尔马岛（加那利群岛）的地下水中存在微塑料

全球塑料垃圾数量不断增加，对环境及其生物多样性、生态系统、动物和人类福利以及经济来说是一个严重问题。这些塑料的降解会产生微塑料（MP），这是首次在加那利群岛的地下水中发现这种物质。这项研究调查了拉帕尔马岛和耶罗岛九个不同地点的 MP 存在情况，并于 2022 年 12 月在画廊、水井和泉水中采集了样本。通过傅里叶变换红外光谱 (FTIR) 发现了六种不同的聚合物 - 聚丙烯(PP)、聚乙烯(PE)、纤维素(CEL)、聚对苯二甲酸乙二醇酯(PET)、聚苯乙烯(PS)和聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯(PMMA)。发现颗粒浓度范围为 1 至 23 n/L，最大颗粒尺寸为 1900 μm，最小颗粒尺寸为 35 μm。 PP 和 PE 是分析中发现的最常见的聚合物，与包装、一次性产品、纺织品和水管的使用有关，与维护不善的污水管网发生泄漏有关，使这些 MP 逃逸到环境中并最终进入环境。地下水。地下水中微塑料污染的检测强调了环境危害，包括生物多样性破坏和水源污染。此外，它还会将污染物转移到食物链中并通过呼吸道接触，对人类健康带来潜在风险。