Isu - News - Microplastic accumulation sites discovered in Lake Baikal Microplastic accumulation sites discovered in Lake Baikal
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IRKUTSK STATE UNIVERSITY
Microplastic accumulation sites discovered in Lake Baikal
26 February 2026
Отбор проб водных обитателей для проведения анализа

Scientists have discovered that microplastics in Lake Baikal accumulate mainly near ship berths, as well as in ice and in seaweed beds. At the same time, the amount of pollutant particles in the water body turned out to be lower than in most of the other studied lakes in the world. The data obtained by ISU biologists will help to more accurately assess the ecological state of Lake Baikal, which serves as a habitat for many unique species of animals and plants. The results of the study, supported by a grant from the Russian Science Foundation (RSF), were published in the journal Environments.

When plastic waste enters the natural environment (into soil or water) it gradually breaks down into small (less than five millimeters) particles – microplastics. Such particles easily enter the bodies of mollusks, fish, mammals and birds. Then, microplastics are transferred through food chains to humans. And, although scientists are still debating whether such particles cause harm to the body, it is important to monitor environmental contamination with microplastics in order to reduce potential risks.

Scientists from Irkutsk State University and their colleagues have comprehensively assessed the pollution of Lake Baikal with microplastic particles for the first time. Baikal is the deepest lake on the planet, and it is inhabited by unique species that aren’t found in any other water body.

In winter and summer 2024 the researches took samples of water, bottom sediments and aquatic plants, as well as caught crustaceans, molluscs and fish in different locations of the bay of Bolshiye Koty village in the southern part of Lake Baikal. During the winter season, snow and ice samples were additionally collected. From all samples, including living organisms, the authors extracted plastic particles, after which they analysed their quantity, size and chemical composition.

Turned out that overall, the pollution of Lake Baikal with microplastics is still low (3-17 particles per cubic meter of water) compared to many other lakes of the world (700-130 000 particles per cubic meter). At the same time, scientists identified zones where the most pollutant particles are accumulated.

First of all, these are locations near ship berths. In these locations, the amount of microplastics (max. 1813 particles per 100 grams of bottom sediment) was comparable to levels common to rather polluted water bodies on the planet, such as urban lakes in Asian countries. It is noteworthy that there were many polymers that come from varnishes and paints for ships. Moreover, authors of the article found fragments of such pollutants in the stomachs of fish caught in the area near the berth.

Another “reservoir” for microplastics turned out to be algae, especially those with a mucous surface, as pollutants “stick” well to it.

Project leader Dmitry Karnaukhov, researcher at ISU Research Institute of Biology at Lake Baikal:

In winter, microplastics also actively accumulate in snow and ice. When snow and ice melt, these particles enter the lake all at once, which is also important to consider when monitoring. In the future, we plan to focus our research on the identified zones with elevated particle concentrations. In addition, it is important to investigate whether microplastic particles fragment when they enter the organisms of aquatic inhabitants.

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