Biomonitoring of Yozgat Çamlık National Park’s (Türkiye) Anthropogenic Microfiber Pollution: A Comprehensive Analysis of Lichen-Supported Air Quality Assessment and Microplastic Composition Insights

Year 2025, Volume: 25 Issue: 3, 306 - 322, 25.12.2025

Zekiye Kocakaya , Erkan Yilmaz , Fatih Duman , Mustafa Kocakaya , Sami Pekdemir

https://doi.org/10.17475/kastorman.1845356

Abstract

Aim of study: To evaluate lichens as bioindicators of atmospheric microfiber pollution by measuring anthropogenic microfiber levels in samples from Yozgat Çamlık National Park (Türkiye).
Area of study: Three regions with varying human activity were sampled within the park.
Material and method: Anthropogenic microfibers were analyzed using wet peroxide oxidation and Rose Bengal staining. Their size and color were determined via stereomicroscopy, and polymer types were identified by FT-IR and Raman spectroscopy.
Main results: Blue was the predominant color, and fiber sizes ranged from 0.15–4.2 mm. The main polymers were polyurethane (42%), acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (25%), and polyethylene terephthalate (13%).
Research highlights: Lichens effectively indicate atmospheric microfiber deposition and reflect regional variations linked to human activity.

Keywords

Microplastics , Anthropogenic Microfibres , Lichen , Biomonitoring , Infrared Spectrometer , Raman Spectrometer.

Supporting Institution

This research was financially supported by Kayseri University (Project No: FBA-2021-1037).

Yozgat Çamlık Milli Parkı'nın (Türkiye) Antropojenik Mikrofiber Kirliliğinin Biyoizlenmesi: Liken Destekli Hava Kalitesi Değerlendirmesi ve Mikroplastik Kompozisyon İçgörülerinin Kapsamlı Bir Analizi

Abstract

Çalışmanın amacı: Türkiye’nin Yozgat Çamlık Milli Parkı’ndan alınan örneklerde antropojenik mikrofiber düzeylerini ölçerek, likenlerin atmosferik mikrofiber kirliliği için biyoindikatör olarak kullanılabilirliğini değerlendirmektir.
Çalışma alanı: Park içerisinde insan faaliyet düzeyleri farklı üç bölgeden örnekleme yapılmıştır.
Materyal ve yöntem: Antropojenik mikrofiberler, ıslak peroksit oksidasyonu ve Rose Bengal boyama yöntemiyle analiz edilmiştir. Mikrofiberlerin boyut ve renkleri stereo mikroskop ile belirlenmiş, polimer türleri FT-IR ve Raman spektroskopisiyle tanımlanmıştır.
Temel sonuçlar: En baskın renk mavi olup, mikrofiber boyutları 0.15–4.2 mm arasında değişmiştir. Başlıca polimer türleri poliüretan (%42), akrilonitril bütadien stiren (%25) ve polietilen tereftalat (%13) olarak saptanmıştır.
Araştırma vurguları: Likenler, atmosferik mikrofiber birikimini etkili biçimde göstermekte ve insan faaliyetlerine bağlı bölgesel farklılıkları yansıtmaktadır.

Keywords

Mikroplastikler , Antropojenik Mikrofiberler , Liken , Biyoizlenme , Kızılötesi Spektrometre , Raman Spektrometre

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