Risk assessment of microplastics in China's largest freshwater lake for Siberian cranes

Despite increasing attention to the status of microplastic (MP) pollution in wetland systems, a systematic assessment of the risk of microplastics to endangered species is still lacking. In this study, we assessed the status of microplastic pollution in Poyang Lake, the world's largest wintering area for the Siberian Crane (Leucogeranus Leucogeranus), and investigated the extent to which microplastics affect the Siberian Crane using an exposure risk model, a non-carcinogenic health risk assessment methodology, and a potential ecological risk assessment model. The number of Siberian Cranes wintering at Poyang Lake was approximately (3058 ± 79) per year over the last two decades, and exposure to microplastics varied spatially, with the water column being the main source of risk (> 95%), suggesting the need for improved water treatment processes. At the maximum microplastic concentration detected, the hazard quotient was less than 0.6. Among the microplastic polymers harmful to the Siberian crane, polystyrene (PS) was the main stressor, accounting for 71.5% of the total, and was identified as a priority for prevention and control. This paper can provide a scientific basis for the prevention and control of microplastic pollution in China, and promote the progress of water treatment engineering management and planning.