Microplastic pollution is as an emerging environmental threat. Focus of most of the current researches has been on microplastics in the marine environment. However, there is limited information for microplastic availability in the fresh water, especially in Pakistan. The current study was conducted with the objective of investigating the microplastic presence and concentration in the surface water and sediments of the Rawal Lake, in the capital city of Pakistan. The average microplastic abundance for water and sediments was 0.142 items/0.1 L and 1.04 items/0.01 kg, respectively. Results indicated that the fibers and fragments were the most dominant types of microplastics. The dominant colors were blue, red, black, and transparent. FTIR analysis of visible microplastic particles displayed a greater similarity with polyethylene, polypropylene, polyesters, polyethylene terephthalate, and polyvinyl chloride because of the appearance of characteristic peaks of these polymers. The study also revealed greater concentration of microplastics in the sediments as compared with water of the Rawal Lake. High population density surrounding lake, improper waste disposal, tourism, and recreational activities may be the major reasons for the microplastic contamination of the lake.

中文翻译：

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巴基斯坦的塑料造成的污染：拉瓦尔湖沉积物和水中的微量塑料暴露于环境的第一个证据。

微塑料污染是一种新兴的环境威胁。当前大多数研究的重点是海洋环境中的微塑料。但是，关于淡水中微量塑料可用性的信息有限，尤其是在巴基斯坦。当前的研究目的是调查巴基斯坦首都拉瓦尔湖的地表水和沉积物中的微塑性存在及其浓度。水和沉积物的平均微塑性丰度分别为0.142个/0.1 L和1.04个/0.01 kg。结果表明，纤维和碎片是最主要的微塑料类型。主要颜色为蓝色，红色，黑色和透明。可见微塑料颗粒的FTIR分析显示与聚乙烯，聚丙烯，聚酯，聚对苯二甲酸乙二酯和聚氯乙烯，因为这些聚合物出现了特征峰。研究还显示，与Rawal湖的水相比，沉积物中的微塑料含量更高。湖泊周围人口密度高，废物处置，旅游和娱乐活动不当可能是造成湖泊中塑料污染的主要原因。