ORIGINAL RESEARCH article
Front. Water
Sec. Environmental Water Quality
This article is part of the Research TopicMicroplastics in Aquatic and Biotic Systems: Environmental Presence, Health Impacts, and Management StrategiesView all 5 articles
Quantitative and Qualitative Analysis of Microplastic Pollution in a Large European River
Provisionally accepted
Pegah Jahanpeyma*
Flóra PomáziAlexander Anatol ErmilovAnna Szöllősi
Dániel GereAndrea Toldy
Sándor Baranya- Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary
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Microplastic pollution comprises particles smaller than 5 mm in size, originating from the breakdown of larger plastic items driven by processes such as ultraviolet radiation, while industrial plastic pellets used in manufacturing may also enter the environment, facilitating widespread transport across atmospheric, aquatic, and terrestrial systems. These particles pose significant environmental and health risks to flora, fauna, and humans. Rivers play a critical role in transporting these pollutants to aquatic environments. This study examines microplastic pollution in the Hungarian section (Budapest reach) of the Danube River, Europe's second-largest river and a vital waterway. The Danube River is a vital water source for Budapest, playing an important role in the region's tourism, economy, and ecology. Water samples were collected using a Multilevel Manta net at various depths across water columns, and laboratory analyses, including Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and digital microscopy, were conducted. Supplementary flow measurements provided mass-flux rates. Results revealed an average microplastic concentration of 0.311 mg/m³ (142 particles/m³). Polystyrene, polyethylene, and polypropylene were the most abundant polymers, appearing in various forms, including fragments, foam, and flakes, and colors such as yellow, black, grey, and green. This research enhances our understanding of microplastic contamination in the Danube River and provides valuable insights into developing effective strategies to mitigate and control this issue.
Keywords: Microplastic characterization, Microplastic identification, Microplastic pollution, Microplastics, Plastic pollution, Riverinemicroplastics
Received: 06 Dec 2025; Accepted: 16 Feb 2026.
Copyright: © 2026 Jahanpeyma, Pomázi, Ermilov, Szöllősi, Gere, Toldy and Baranya. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
* Correspondence: Pegah Jahanpeyma
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