Researchers from the Department of Terrestrial Hydrology at Moscow State University, Oksana Erina and Maria Tereshina, found that lakes endure more plastic pollution than oceans. Their findings appeared in a scientific publication under the title Plastic debris in lakes and reservoirs. The study focused on water samples collected in Russia, including the Mozhaisk reservoir, and was part of an international project exploring factors that influence the presence of plastics in freshwater systems. The team noted that some freshwater lakes harbor plastic concentrations higher than some widely cited oceanic trash zones.
As part of a broader international collaboration, the project involved the University of Milan Bicocca in Italy and spanned 38 lakes and reservoirs across 23 countries. The research was coordinated through GLEON, an international association that connects researchers studying lake ecology and limnology. Within this global frame, the Mozhaisk reservoir stood out as the sole Russian water body included in the sampling program.
Researchers quantified microplastic particles in selected water samples using Raman microspectroscopy. They classified particles by size, amount, and polymer type, with polyester, polypropylene, and polyethylene emerging as the most common materials. Elevated plastic concentrations were documented in several lakes, including Lago Maggiore in Italy, Lake Lugano spanning Switzerland and Italy, Lake Tahoe in the United States, and Loch Neagh in the United Kingdom. Several of these heavily polluted lakes serve as crucial sources of drinking water and provide extensive recreational opportunities, amplifying the urgency of addressing plastic contamination.
The study highlights that plastic pollution poses risks beyond aesthetics. It can impede water use for drinking, irrigation, and recreation while harming aquatic life and disrupting lake ecosystem dynamics. Plastic debris on the surface has the potential to influence methane release and other greenhouse gas emissions. Maria Tereshina, a graduate student in the Terrestrial Hydrology Department, noted that plastics can alter biogeochemical cycles by affecting how pollutants move between air, water, soil, and living organisms. This underscores a broader environmental challenge that touches water quality, biodiversity, and climate indicators.
Even in protected regions, plastic fibers and other synthetic materials were found, illustrating how human activity leaves a footprint even where direct disturbance is minimized. Oksana Erina, who leads the Laboratory of River Hydrology and Water Resources at the Moscow State University Geography Faculty, emphasized that freshwater plastic pollution is a global issue. She described lakes as buffers that temporarily retain plastics, allowing accumulations and transformations before they can reach larger bodies of water. The study’s scope and methods reinforce the need for ongoing monitoring and coordinated international action to safeguard freshwater resources across continents.
Taken together, the findings stress the importance of addressing plastic waste through better waste management, improved river and lake runoff controls, and public awareness campaigns. With an emphasis on North American waters, including lakes and reservoirs in Canada and the United States, the research community advocates for comprehensive sampling and standardized methodologies to better compare data across regions. The global pattern remains clear: plastic pollution in freshwater systems is not confined to isolated hotspots but is a widespread challenge requiring sustained collaboration among scientists, policymakers, and local communities to protect drinking water supplies and preserve the health of aquatic ecosystems.
In assessing water body conditions, scientists often use modern laboratory techniques to detect microplastics and evaluate their distribution. The evolving field combines field sampling with advanced analytics to map contamination levels and identify polymer types, enabling targeted mitigation strategies and policy responses that can reduce impacts on both human use and natural habitats.