Vpliv mikroplastike iz avtomobilskih pnevmatik na malo vodno lečo

Kambič, Maša (author), Kalčikova, Gabriela (mentor)

Zaradi odličnih lastnosti plastike (nizka cena, vodoodpornost, vzdržljivost) se zanimanje in posledično proizvodnja plastičnih izdelkov povečujeta. S povečano proizvodnjo se pojavlja tudi vse večja količina odpadkov, ki končajo v okolju. Poleg večjih kosov plastike se soočamo s problematiko mikroplastike. Ta nastane bodisi med samo proizvodnjo (primarna mikroplastika) ali z različnimi postopki razgradnje večjih kosov (sekundarna mikroplastika). Z vstopom v okolje mikroplastika potuje po različnih ekosistemih; najdemo jo v zemlji, zraku in tudi vodnem okolju. Največji vir predstavljajo odpadni delci avtomobilskih pnevmatik, ki nastanejo z abrazijo med vožnjo. Največje onesnaženje se pojavlja neposredno ob cestiščih, z oddaljevanjem pa se koncentracija niža. Ker so v pnevmatiki dodane številne kemikalije, ki izboljšajo njeno delovanje in vzdržljivost, se med odlaganjem delcev te kemikalije izlužujejo v okolje in predstavljajo dodatno nevarnost za organizme. O vplivu mikroplastike iz pnevmatik še ni opravljenih veliko raziskav, zato smo testirali vpliv te mikroplastike in njenih izlužkov na vodno rastlino malo vodno lečo Lemna minor. Potencialno strupenost smo ocenjevali s testiranjem vpliva na specifično hitrost rasti, rast korenin in koncentracijo fotosintetskih pigmentov (klorofil a in klorofil b). Iz rezultatov je razvidno, da so večji vpliv na malo vodno lečo povzročili izlužki mikroplastike iz avtomobilskih pnevmatik kakor delci. Pri eksperimentu z delci smo opazili inhibicijo specifične hitrosti rasti in rasti korenin le pri najvišji testirani koncentraciji (1000 mg/L). Vpliv je bil v manjši meri opažen pri koncentraciji klorofila a, kjer se je ta rahlo povečeval s povečevanjem koncentracije mikroplastike. Pri eksperimentu z izlužki je bil vpliv na specifično hitrost rasti in rast korenin prav tako opažen le pri najvišji testirani koncentraciji, medtem ko je bil vpliv na koncentracijo klorofila a in b veliko bolj izrazit.

• Language: Slovenian
• Keywords: mikroplastika, pnevmatike, mala vodna leča, strupenost
• Work type: Bachelor thesis/paper
• Typology: 2.11 - Undergraduate Thesis
• Organization: FKKT - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Technology
• Year: 2023
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-149542
• COBISS.SI-ID: 163457539
• Publication date in RUL: 07.09.2023

Secondary language

• Language: English
• Title: The effect of microplastics from car tires on duckweed

Abstract

Due to great properties of plastics (low cost, water resistance, durability), the interest in plastic products is increasing and consequently their production. With the increasing production, the amount of waste that ends up in the environment is also increasing. In addition to presence of larger plastic waste in the environment, we also face with the problem of microplastics. They are generated either during the production of other plastic products (primary microplastics) or by various degradation processes of larger pieces (secondary microplastics). Microplastics enter the environment and travel through different ecosystems; they are found in soil, air and aquatic environment. One of the largest sources of microplastics are car tires – microplastics are generated by abrasion during driving. The highest concentrations occur in proximity to roadways, with concentrations decreasing with distance. Because many chemicals are added to tires to improve their performance and durability, when the particles are deposited, these chemicals can be leached into the environment and pose an additional risk to organisms. The effects of microplastics from tire wear are not well understood, so the aim of the thesis was to evaluate the effects of those microplastics and their leachates on duckweed Lemna minor. The potential hazard was evaluated as the effects on specific growth rate, root growth and concentration of photosynthetic pigments (chlorophyll a and chlorophyll b). The results show that the use of microplastics from car tires as particles resulted in greater impacts than leachates on the duckweed. In the experiment with presence of particles, inhibition of specific growth rate and root growth was observed only at the highest tested concentration (1000 mg/L). The effect was observed to a lesser extent in the concentration of chlorophyll a, where it slightly increased with increasing of concentration of microplastics. In the experiment with leachate, the effect on the specific growth rate and root growth was also observed only at the highest concentration, while the effect on the concentration of chlorophyll a and b was much more pronounced.

• Keywords: microplastics, tires, duckweed, toxicity