Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes

Esra Billur Balcıoglu İlhan; Hande Çavuş Arslan; Nuray Çağlar

Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes

Abstract

Microplastics (MPs), although less studied compared to aquatic environments, pose a growing environmental threat to urban soil ecosystems under intense human activity. In this study, the spatial and seasonal distribution, abundance, and basic characteristics of microplastics in urban soils located in the European and Anatolian sides of İstanbul were evaluated for the first time using a comprehensive approach. Microplastics were extracted from surface soil samples collected from 11 different stations during the winter, spring, summer, and fall seasons using a density-based flotation method and classified under a stereomicroscope according to their shape, size, and colour characteristics. MPs were found at all sampling points, with concentrations ranging from 1001 to 1893 items/kg. The highest average MP abundance was determined in the spring season (1675 items/kg), while the lowest values were detected in the summer period. The vast majority of MPs were particles in the form of fibres <500 µm in size (66%), followed by fragments (25%) and films (7%). In terms of colour distribution, the dominance of blue-green tones is noteworthy. Statistical analyses revealed that seasonal variations had a significant effect on MP abundance (p<0.05) and that there was a strong positive correlation between total MP quantity and fiber-type MPs. The calculated Contamination Factor (CF) and Pollution Load Index (PLI) values indicate that urban soils in Istanbul generally have a “moderate” level of MP pollution. The findings reveal that urban land use and anthropogenic pressures play a decisive role in MP accumulation, and the study provides an important reference dataset for Istanbul.

Keywords

Project Number

None

Ethical Statement

We declare that our study do not require ethical committee permission.

Thanks

The authors would like to thank Dr. Filiz Ekim ÇEVİK for her assistance in collecting the samples.

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Physical Geography and Environmental Geology (Other)

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Esra Billur Balcıoglu İlhan ^*
0000-0003-1235-9101
Türkiye

Hande Çavuş Arslan
0000-0003-2340-8853
Türkiye

Nuray Çağlar
0000-0001-7608-6339
Türkiye

Publication Date

April 30, 2026

Submission Date

January 15, 2026

Acceptance Date

March 16, 2026

Published in Issue

Year 2026 Volume: 13 Number: 1

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN

Cite

RIS / Bibtex

APA

Balcıoglu İlhan, E. B., Çavuş Arslan, H., & Çağlar, N. (2026). Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, 13(1), 50-61. https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN

AMA

1.Balcıoglu İlhan EB, Çavuş Arslan H, Çağlar N. Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes. IJEGEO. 2026;13(1):50-61. https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN

Chicago

Balcıoglu İlhan, Esra Billur, Hande Çavuş Arslan, and Nuray Çağlar. 2026. “Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes”. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 13 (1): 50-61. https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN.

EndNote

Balcıoglu İlhan EB, Çavuş Arslan H, Çağlar N (April 1, 2026) Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 13 1 50–61.

IEEE

[1]E. B. Balcıoglu İlhan, H. Çavuş Arslan, and N. Çağlar, “Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes”, IJEGEO, vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 50–61, Apr. 2026, [Online]. Available: https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN

ISNAD

Balcıoglu İlhan, Esra Billur - Çavuş Arslan, Hande - Çağlar, Nuray. “Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes”. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics 13/1 (April 1, 2026): 50-61. https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN.

JAMA

1.Balcıoglu İlhan EB, Çavuş Arslan H, Çağlar N. Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes. IJEGEO. 2026;13:50–61.

MLA

Balcıoglu İlhan, Esra Billur, et al. “Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes”. International Journal of Environment and Geoinformatics, vol. 13, no. 1, Apr. 2026, pp. 50-61, https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN.

Vancouver

1.Esra Billur Balcıoglu İlhan, Hande Çavuş Arslan, Nuray Çağlar. Microplastics in Urban Soils of Istanbul: Distribution Patterns and Seasonal Changes. IJEGEO [Internet]. 2026 Apr. 1;13(1):50-61. Available from: https://izlik.org/JA63YM28UN