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Hydrochemical quality and microplastic levels of the groundwaters of Tuticorin, southeast coast of India

Qualité hydrochimique et niveaux de microplastiques dans les eaux souterraines de Tuticorin, côte sud-est de l’Inde

Calidad hidroquímica y contenidos de microplásticos en las aguas subterráneas de Tuticorin, costa sureste de la India

印度东南海岸图Tuticorin地下水的水化质量和微塑料水**

Qualidade hidroquímica e níveis de micro plástico nas águas subterrâneas de Tutucorin, costa sudeste da Índia

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Abstract

Groundwater is essential for drinking as well as irrigation purposes. The occurrence of microplastics (MPs) in the biotic and abiotic environments is widely recorded, but little is known about MP occurrence in groundwater. This study assessed MP contamination and hydrochemical quality in a shallow and unconfined aquifer of Tuticorin, India. Water samples were collected from bore wells and open wells for MP assessment and hydrochemical analysis. All the physicochemical parameters are within defined limits, and the significant variations observed could be due to rock–water interaction and the mixing of seawater and freshwater. MPs are found in groundwater samples with an average abundance of 29.73±3.27 items per liter (range 9–39 items per liter), whereas the mean MP abundance is found to be higher in bore wells (32.9±4 items per liter) than in open wells (23.9±3.56 items per liter). The dominant type of MPs observed are fibers and the colors are red, black and white with a predominant size <3 mm. Results of a hazard assessment (polymer hazard index, PHI) on the MPs place the samples under the hazard level IV category due to the presence of high-hazard-score polymers such as polyamide, polystyrene and polyurethane. No significant correlation is noted between the groundwater quality and the quantity of MPs. The presence of MPs in the groundwater could be due to infiltration from surface sources of plastic pollution and could also result from the mixing of seawater and freshwater. Further study is necessary to identify the sources of MP contamination and to assess the capacity of MPs to infiltrate the aquifer.

Résumé

L’eau souterraine est. une ressource essentielle pour l’alimentation et l’irrigation. La présence de microplastiques (MPs) dans des environnements biotiques et abiotiques est. largement décrite, mais on sait peu de chose sur la présence de MP dans les eaux souterraines. Cette étude évalue la contamination en MP et la qualité hydrochimique d’un aquifère libre et peu profond de Tuticorin, Inde. Des échantillons d’eau ont été collectés dans des forages et puits ouverts pour la mesure des MP et les analyses hydrochimiques. Tous les paramètres physico-chimiques ont des valeurs comprises dans les limites définies de qualité, et les variations observées sont sans doute dues majoritairement aux interactions eau–roche et mélange entre eau douce et eau de mer. Les MPs ont été trouvés dans les échantillons d’eaux souterraines avec une abondance moyenne de 29.73±3.27 éléments par litre (entre 9–39 éléments par litre), avec une abondance en MP plus importante dans les forages (32.9±4 élémentspar litre) que dans les puits ouverts (23.9±3.56 éléments par litre). Les types dominants de MPs sont les fibres, de couleur rouge, noire et blanche avec une taille prédominante <3 mm. Les résultats d’une évaluation des risques (indice de risque polymère, PHI) sur les MPs positionne les échantillons dans la catégorie IV du fait de la présence de polymères comme le polyamide, polystyrène et polyuréthane avec un score de risque élevé. Il n’y a pas de corrélation significative entre la qualité des eaux souterraines et la quantité de MPs. La présence de MPs dans les eaux souterraines peut être due à une infiltration depuis des sources de pollution en surface et également résulter d’un mélange entre les eaux de mer et eaux douces. D’autres études sont nécessaires pour identifier les sources de MPs et évaluer la capacité des MPs à s’infiltrer dans l’aquifère.

Resumen

Las aguas subterráneas son esenciales para el consumo y el riego. La presencia de microplásticos (MPs) en los medios bióticos y abióticos está ampliamente registrada, pero se sabe poco sobre la presencia de MP en las aguas subterráneas. Este estudio evaluó la contaminación por MP y la calidad hidroquímica en un acuífero poco profundo y no confinado de Tuticorin, India. Se recogieron muestras de agua de pozos de sondeo y de pozos abiertos para la evaluación de la MP y el análisis hidroquímico. Todos los parámetros fisicoquímicos están dentro de los límites definidos, y las variaciones significativas observadas podrían deberse a la interacción roca–agua y a la mezcla de agua de mar y agua dulce. Los MPs se encuentran en las muestras de agua subterránea con una abundancia media de 29.73±3.27 elementos por litro (rango 9–39 elementos por litro), mientras que la abundancia media de MPs es mayor en los pozos de sondeo (32.9±4 elementos por litro) que en los pozos abiertos (23.9±3.56 elementos por litro). El tipo dominante de MPs observado son fibras y los colores son rojo, negro y blanco con un tamaño predominante <3 mm. Los resultados de la evaluación de la peligrosidad (índice de peligrosidad de los polímeros, PHI) de los MPs sitúan las muestras en la categoría de nivel de peligrosidad IV debido a la presencia de polímeros de alta puntuación de peligrosidad como la poliamida, el poliestireno y el poliuretano. No se observa ninguna correlación significativa entre la calidad de las aguas subterráneas y la cantidad de MPs. La presencia de MPs en las aguas subterráneas podría deberse a la infiltración de fuentes superficiales de contaminación por plásticos y también podría ser el resultado de la mezcla de agua de mar y agua dulce. Es necesario realizar más estudios para identificar las fuentes de contaminación por MPs y evaluar la capacidad de infiltración de MPs en el acuífero.

摘要

地下水对于饮用和灌溉目的至关重要。广泛记录了生物和非生物环境中微塑料(MPS)的发生，但对地下水中的MP的发生知之甚少。 这项研究评估了印度Tuticorin浅层含水层中的MP污染和水化学品质。从井孔和开放式井中收集水样，以进行MP评估和水化学分析。所有的物理化学参数都在定义的范围内，观察到的显著变化可能是由于水岩相互作用以及海水和淡水的混合。地下水样品中的MPs的**均丰度为29.73±3.27 项每升(9–39项每升)，而在井孔的**均MP丰度(32.9±4项每升)比露天井的更高(23.9±3.56项每升)。 观察到的主要MPS是纤维，颜色为红色，黑色和白色，主要尺寸<3 mm。MPs上的危险性评估(聚合物危害指数，PHI)为危险水**IV级，这是由于存在高危险分数的聚合物，例如聚酰胺，聚苯乙烯和聚氨酯。 地下水质量与MP的数量之间没有明显的相关性。 地下水中MPs的存在可能是由于塑料污染的表面来源浸润，也可能是由于海水和淡水的混合而引起的。 对于确定MP污染的来源和评估MPs渗透含水层的能力有必要进一步的研究。

Resumo

Águas subterrâneas são essenciais para beber, assim como para irrigação. A ocorrência de micro plásticos (MPs) em ambientes bióticos e abióticos é amplamente registrada, mas pouco é conhecido sobre a ocorrência de MP em águas subterrâneas. Este estudo avaliou a contaminação por MP e a qualidade hidroquímica em um aquífero raso e não confinado em Tuticorin, Índia. Amostras de água foram coletadas em poços tubulares e poços abertos para avaliação de MP e análise hidroquímica. Todos os parâmetros físico-químico estão dentro de limites definidos, e as variações significativas observadas podem ser devido a interação água-rocha e a mistura de águas do mar e águas doce. MPs são encontrado em águas subterrâneas com uma abundância média de 29.73±3.27 itens/L (intervalo 9–39 itens/L), enquanto a abundancia média de MP é maior em poços tubulares (32.9±4 itens/L) do que em poços abertos (23.9±3.56 itens/L). O tipo dominante de MPs observados são as fibras e as cores são vermelha, preta e branca com tamanho predominante <3mm. Resultados da avaliação dos riscos (índice de perigo poliméricos, IPP) nos MPs alocaram as amostras na categoria de risco nível IV devido a presença de polímeros de alta pontuação de risco como a poliamida, poliestireno e poliuretano. Nenhuma correlação significante é notada entre a qualidade das águas subterrâneas e a quantidade de MPs. A presença de MPs nas águas subterrâneas pode ser devido a infiltração de fontes superficiais de poluição de plástico e também do resultado da mistura entre águas do mar e águas doce. Estudo mais aprofundado é necessário para identificar as fontes de contaminação de MP e para avaliar a capacidade dos MPs em infiltrar no aquífero.

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Acknowledgements

The authors are thankful to Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute for use of their facilities.

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  1. Suganthi Devadason Marine Research Institute, Tuticorin, Tamil Nadu, India

    Jamila Patterson, R. L. Laju, K. Immaculate Jeyasanta, S. Shelciya, V. Glen Esmeralda, N. Gladwin Gnana Asir & M. Narmatha

  2. Department of Climate and Environment, SINTEF Ocean, Trondheim, Norway

    Andy M. Booth

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Patterson, J., Laju, R.L., Jeyasanta, K.I. et al. Hydrochemical quality and microplastic levels of the groundwaters of Tuticorin, southeast coast of India. Hydrogeol J 31, 167–184 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-022-02582-6

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