Microplastics are transferred to humans through the food chain by consuming food contaminated with microplastics. However, the knowledge about the risks of dietary exposure for humans to these particles is very limited. Moreover, only a few studies on microplastic pollution in fruit and vegetables have been carried on. Thus, this study aims to investigate the presence of microplastics in some of the most consumed fruits and vegetables (pear (Pyrus communis), apple (Malus domestica), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), onion (Allium cepa), potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), and cucumber (Cucumis sativus)) from Turkey and to evaluate the potential risk for consumers. Fruits and vegetable samples were purchased from different markets and fruiterer (two of each) in Muğla province, Southwest of Turkey. Microplastic extraction processes were carried out on the edible parts of the samples. According to the results obtained, a total of 210 particles (2.9 ± 1.6 particle g⁻¹) were detected in all samples. Any significant difference occurred among the different markets. The maximum average amount of microplastic was determined in tomato samples (3.63 ± 1.39 particle g⁻¹). The highest microplastic intake was with tomato (398,520 particles individual⁻¹ year⁻¹ for Estimated Annual Intake (EAI) and Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) for children 68.24 particles kg⁻¹ day⁻¹). The occurrence of microplastics of big size, that are not allowed to pass by plant xylem transport, suggests that fresh vegetables and fruits can be contaminated with plastic, especially during the production phase, during agricultural activities and during the marketing process (transport to the market and purchasing process).

In this study, the existence of heavy metals such as chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), cadmium (Cd), mercury (Hg) and lead (Pb) their distribution in the organs of plant and their bioaccumulation rates in water samples and Myriophyllum spicatum which were collected from the Kadin Creek in seasonal periods between 2011 and 2012 were analyzed. Heavy metal concentrations in the mineralized plant and water samples were determined with Inductive coupled plasma with mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Results showed the maximum heavy metal concentrations, in the root and minimum heavy metal concentrations, except chromium, in the stem. The distribution of heavy metals As, Cd, Hg and Pb was in the form of root > leaf > stem; the distribution of Cr was in the root > stem > leaf. There was a strong negative correlation between the suspended solid matter and heavy metal concentrations in the plant tissues. Heavy metal accumulation showed increase generally in fall. Heavy metals in the water were sorted as Pb > Cr > As > Hg > Cd by their mean concentrations. According to the factor data of bioconcentration, the order of heavy metal accumulation in the plant was As > Cr > Pb > Hg > Cd.

This study examined the spatio-temporality of heavy metal concentrations (Al, Cd, Co, Cr, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in the sediments of Lake Bafa, one of the most important wetlands of Turkey’s Aegean region. The study evaluated sediment quality according to threshold effect concentration (TEC) and probable effect concentration (PEC) values based on sediment quality guidelines (SQG), and provided a potential ecological risk assessment (PERI) along with indices such as geoaccumulation index (NI_geo), enrichment factor (EF), contamination factor (CF), and pollution load index (PLI). For this purpose, surface sediment from 10 different points and core samples from three different points were seasonally collected and the concentrations of nine heavy metals were determined by ICP-MS. The findings indicated the following accumulation order of heavy metals in the sediment: Fe > Al > Mn > Ni > Cr > Zn > Pb > Co > Cd, with concentrations of Al, Mn, and Ni being high in the surface sediment samples. According to the NI_geo, surface sediment and core samples were very slightly polluted with Cr, Mn, and Co at most stations, while five stations were slightly polluted with Cd. Regarding EF, the lake was at risk in terms of Al and Pb accumulation. The CF results indicated that the lake was under pressure in terms of heavy metal pollution. The PLI results indicated a significant pollution hazard at all stations, while the PERI analysis indicated moderate risk of heavy metal pollution at some stations. As one of the most comprehensive studies applying such indices to Lake Bafa, the results are very significant in terms of evaluating the lake’s ecological sustainability.