The Impact of Morphological Structures on the Presence of Microplastics in the Hyporheic Zone of the Ziarat River

Document Type : Complete scientific research article

Authors

1 Ph.D. Graduate of Water Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

2 Corresponding Author, Associate Prof., Dept. of Water Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

3 Professor, Dept. of Water Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

4 Associate Prof., Dept. of Environmental Sciences, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran

5 Assistant Prof., Dept. of Water Engineering, Gorgan University of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, Gorgan, Iran.

Abstract

Background and Objectives: The hyporheic zone is an interstitial saturated area located beneath the riverbed and its banks. This zone includes a part of the river flow that has infiltrated the bed and plays a very important function in the ecology of various organisms. In this region, surface water flow delivers oxygen and nutrients to the organisms, eventually returning to the surface water after a certain period. In rivers, small and lightweight microplastics are transported downstream; however, they are also frequently found in riverbed sediment, indicating long-term retention.
Materials and Methods: This study investigated the presence of microplastics in the sediment of the hyporheic zone of the Ziarat River. For this purpose, samples were collected from three distinct morphological structures (island, logjam, and step-pool) within the hyporheic area during the summer season. The sediments were then transported to the laboratory for analysis of microplastic presence. Sampling was conducted at three points in each location. Microplastic particles were categorized into four size ranges: less than 500 micrometers, 500 to 1000 micrometers, 1000 to 3000 micrometers, and 3000 to 5000 micrometers. The shapes of the microplastics were classified as fibers, pellets, lines, and fragments. The color of the microplastic particles was recorded based on the appearance of their surfaces. Polymer type identification was conducted using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). The relationship between microplastics and their structural characteristics was examined through one-way multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA).
Results: The results of this study indicate that microplastics exist in three morphological structures: Island, Logjam, and Step-Pool. The highest abundance of microplastics is found in particles measuring less than 1,000 micrometers. Among these three morphological structures, microplastics in the form of lines and fibers are the most prevalent. The predominant color observed for microplastics in sediments was black, and the polymer type of the particles was polyethylene. A statistical analysis of the relationship between microplastics and various morphological structures revealed no significant differences in size and shape between the microplastics and the morphological structures found in the Ziarat River.
Conclusion: The results indicate that microplastics smaller than 1,000 micrometers are likely the most abundant size fraction found in the sediments of the Ziarat River. Given that this phenomenon is unlikely to be exclusive to the Ziarat River, it can be inferred that the significance of microplastics of various smaller sizes is also considerable in other river systems. Considering the impact of classification methods on the analysis of results, a more detailed examination of smaller size categories is anticipated to reveal a significantly higher presence of microplastics in the riverbed sediments. One notable characteristic of the Ziarat River in the sampling area of the present study is its close proximity to the treatment facility. Consequently, the treatment plant is likely to play a significant role in the accumulation of microplastics in this region, which serves both as a tourist attraction and a wastewater treatment facility. Furthermore, the high abundance of fibers in the area, primarily originating from domestic wastewater, supports this assertion.

Keywords: Hyporheic Zone, Microplastic, Island, Logjams, Step-pool.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Water and Soil Conservation
Volume 32, Issue 2
September 2025
Pages 183-199

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