Master of science

Microplasticretention on beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) - a case study in Collelongo, Abruzzo, Italy Mohr, J., Klein, M., Brecht, T., Stöwer, S.-C. & E.K. Fischer Microplastic Research at CEN (MRC), Center for Earth System Research and Sustainability, University of Hamburg In this study, the environmental behavior of microplastics on beech leaves (Fagus sylvatica) during precipitation events was investigated. The study was conducted in central Italy, near the town of Collelongo. Leaves were sampled from a single tree at different heights (2 m, 4 m) and the atmospheric deposition below the tree was collected according to periods of leave sampling. In the laboratory, the leaves first were shaken with an aliquot of filtered water and after that with Tween 20 in a standardized manner. The deposition samples were treated with a digestion solution consisting of potassium hydroxide and sodium hypochlorite to destroy biogenic organic matter. The microplastic particles were quantified by staining with the lipophilic dye Nile red and subsequent fluorescence microscopy. An average of 16,393 ± 10,141 MP/m^2 (median: 14,690) was detected on the leaf samples and 2,526 ± 1,553 MP/m^2 (median: 1,957) on the deposition samples. The microplastic concentration in the tree was significantly higher at a height of 2 meters (59.19 Also see: https://micro2024.sciencesconf.org/558462/document