Hydrometeorological assessments of the transport of microplastic pellets in the Eastern Mediterranean.

Microplastic pellets were sampled in May and November 2018 during one-week surveys at 13 coastal beaches in Iskenderun Bay/Turkey. Pellet pollution index (PPI) was calculated for the beaches as a tool to assess beach pollution by microplastic pellets. Hydrometeorological conditions, including wind, current, wave, surface run-off, and precipitation, were examined during 2018 to reveal the effect on the transport of microplastic pellets within the study area. Sea-surface heights, including the astronomical tide and the storm surge and the wave runup heights, were also considered in the analysis to study the extent of hydrodynamic forcing on the beach. Hydrometeorological assessments indicated that the pellet concentrations in the coastal zone are mostly related to wind-induced transport. Three major river discharges are considered as the main source of microplastic pellets effluents. A Lagrangian particle transport model was conducted to reveal the possible beaching hotspots of microplastic pellets released from these river mouths. Average microplastic pellets were calculated as 126.04 ± 54.08 items/m2 for May 2018 and 70.22 ± 18.25 items/m2 for November 2018. An overall mean PPI for May 2018 was calculated as 1.13, indicating a moderate degree of pellet pollution, and 0.56 for November 2018, indicating a low degree of pellet pollution. The simulations showed that Orontes River effluents affected the inner Iskenderun Bay coasts more than the Seyhan and Ceyhan River.

A review of plastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems of Turkey.

Turkey is one of the major plastic pollution sources in the Mediterranean and the Black Sea. This review summarizes present information, data, and legislation on plastic pollution in Turkish aquatic ecosystems. According to results derived from reviewed studies, both macro- and microplastic pollutions were documented in Turkish aquatic ecosystems. Most of the studies on plastic pollution in Turkish waters were performed in the marine environment while only four were conducted in freshwater environments. Spatially, the majority of these studies, which were on levels in the marine environment, were conducted on the northeastern Mediterranean coasts of Turkey, especially Iskenderun and Mersin Bays. Additional studies were carried out on either the ingestion/presence/impact of microplastics by/to aquatic organisms or the entanglement of marine organisms in plastics. There were also studies assessing the microplastic content of commercial salt, and another has reported microplastic presence in traditional stuffed mussels sold in Turkish streets. Some studies were conducted on microplastic presence and/or their removal in wastewater treatment plants in Mersin, Adana, Mugla, and Istanbul cities. Macro- and microliter loading from a few Turkish rivers to the sea was also estimated. All these investigations indicate that Turkish aquatic environments have significant plastic pollution problems, which were also underlined by the legislative studies. The need for further studies in this field still exists, especially in freshwater environments.

Mediterranean dirty edge: High level of meso and macroplastics pollution on the Turkish coast.

It has become apparent that the coastal zones of aquatic environments are significantly affected by plastics pollution. The accumulation of marine plastic litter on beaches is an important problem due to their significant environmental impacts. In this study, 13 coastal areas in Iskenderun Bay (NE Levantine coast of Turkey) were sampled in May 2018 to investigate meso and macroplastic (0.5-123.4 cm) pollution. A total of 1424 meso and macroplastic items in five categories (filament, film, foam, fragments, and pellets) were collected. The average meso and macroplastic concentration was 12.2 ±â€¯3.5 pcs m-2 (12.3 ±â€¯3.5 g m-2) and the mean size for all stations was 3.7 ±â€¯0.16 cm. The highest meso and macroplastic concentration was found in the Dörtyol location (46.2 ±â€¯7.6 pcs m-2) and the lowest concentration was found in the Y. Lagün location (2.3 ±â€¯0.2 pcs m-2). Plastics were separated into 14 different groups based on their origins. The most dominant type was hard plastics (broken, fragmented, and deformed) with 59.8% and greenhouse coverage films with 11%. Our results shows that regardless their source plastics fluxes at beaches from various pathways. Results of this study provide useful information for designing monitoring strategies and setting management goals.

Microplastics in municipal wastewater treatment plants in Turkey: a comparison of the influent and secondary effluent concentrations.

Wastewater treatment plants are one of the primary pathways through which microplastics enter aquatic environments. In this study, we have determined the microplastic concentrations of the influent and secondary effluent water of two wastewater treatment plants in Turkey. For this purpose, we have taken samples of the influent and effluent water of Seyhan and Yüregir wastewater treatment facilities for 6 days in August 2017 and determined their microplastics' content both visually and using µ-Raman spectroscopy. The results showed that the influent of the wastewater treatment contained 1 million-6.5 million particles per day, while the effluent contained 220,000-1.5 million particles per day. The removal rate of microplastics was found to be between 73 and 79%. In total, seven different types of polymers were detected. The most frequently observed polymer type was polyester.

How microplastics quantities increase with flood events? An example from Mersin Bay NE Levantine coast of Turkey.

Floods caused by heavy rain carry significant amounts of pollutants into marine environments. This study evaluates the effect of multiple floods that occurred in the northeastern Mediterranean region in Turkey between December 2016 and January 2017 on the microplastic pollution in the Mersin Bay. Sampling was repeated in four different stations both before and after the flood period, and it was determined that in the four stations, there was an average of 539,189 MPs/km2 before the flood, and 7,699,716 MPs/km2 afterwards, representing a 14-fold increase. Fourteen different polymer types were detected in an ATR FT-IR analysis, eight of which were not found in samples collected before the floods. The most common polymer type was identified as polyethylene both pre- and post-flood. The mean particle size, which was 2.37 mm in the pre-flood period, decreased to 1.13 mm in the post-flood period. A hydrodynamic modeling study was implemented to hindcast the current structure and the spatial and temporal distributions of microplastics within the study area. In conclusion, heavy rain and severe floods can dramatically increase the microplastic levels in the sea.

Fouling assemblage of benthic plastic debris collected from Mersin Bay, NE Levantine coast of Turkey.

The Mediterranean is an ecosystem that faces more and more microplastic pollution every day. This causes the whole of the Mediterranean to face the negative effects of plastic pollution. This study examines the state of plastic debris and fouling organisms found on it in one of the areas most affected by plastic pollution, Mersin Bay. As a result, a total of 3.88kg plastic (mean=0,97kg; n=120; 2670item/km2; 86,3kg/km2) was collected and based on the ATR-FTIR analysis, it was determined that this total contained 9 types of plastics. 17 different fouling species belonging to 6 phylum (Annelida, Arthropoda, Bryozoa, Chordata, Cnidaria, Mollusca) 7 class and 11 order were discovered on plastics. Spirobranchus triqueter, Hydroides sp. and Neopycnodonte cochlear were the most abundant species. In the end, the example of Mersin Bay shows that plastic debris as a substrate can contain a very high diversity of life just like natural substrates.

Micro- and mesoplastics in Northeast Levantine coast of Turkey: The preliminary results from surface samples.

The determination of the microplastic distribution will be beneficial as a measure of the potential effects on the environment. The Mediterranean Sea had a high risk of pollution as it was enclosed by highly populated and industrialized countries. Here, we determined the level of micro- and mesoplastic pollution in Iskenderun and Mersin Bays, located in the Northeastern Levantine coast of Turkey. The average level of both micro- and mesoplastic was determined to be 0.376 item/m2 at seven stations. The highest level was determined in Mersin Bay at the mouth of the Seyhan river (Station no. 7, with 906 items), and the lowest level was found in Station no. 4 in Iskenderun Bay (78 items). As a result of this study, it was determined that the microplastic pollution level in the Mediterranean coast of Turkey was similar to the other regions of the Mediterranean Sea.

Transurethral resection of the prostate with monopolar resectoscope: single-surgeon experience and long-term results of after 3589 procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To present our clinical outcomes and to assess the impact of technological improvements that have occurred recently in transurethral resection of the prostate (TURP) on its morbidity. METHODS: The data from the 3589 patients who underwent conventional monopolar TURP for BPH from March 2000 to December 2008 were evaluated retrospectively. Data were analyzed to obtain perioperative and postoperative complications, operative time, weight of prostate chips resected, time to catheter removal, and hospitalization time. Patients were followed at 3 months and then yearly. The follow-up included the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), quality of life score (QoL), maximum urinary flow rate (Q(max.)), and prostate-specific antigen. The significant improvements in mean the IPSS, QoL score, and Q(max.) were observed in postoperative visits. RESULTS: Intraoperative perforation of prostatic capsule or bladder neck was observed in 27 (0.75%) patients. In the early postoperative period, clot retention with secondary bleeding was observed in 81 (2.3%) patients. Recatheterization was required in 195 (5.4%) patients. Mild to moderate dysuria was observed in 819 (23%) patients. Urinary tract infection occurred in 234 (6.5%) cases. Severe dysuria, urgency, and urge incontinence was observed in 93 (2.6%) patients in the first week after surgery. During the follow-up period, urethral stricture and bladder neck contracture occurred in 117 (3.2%) and 39 (1.08%) patients, respectively. There was no the iatrogenic incontinence. Re-operation as a result of rest prostatic adenoma was required in 158 (4.4%) patients. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that a technical improvement in TURP provides a lower complication rate. Conventional monopolar TURP can now be performed with excellent long-term efficacy combined with reduced complications.

120-W GreenLight laser photoselective vaporization of prostate for benign prostatic hyperplasia: midterm outcomes.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of 120-W high-performance system (HPS) laser photoselective vaporization of the prostate (PVP) in the treatment of patients with lower urinary tract symptoms secondary to benign prostatic hyperplasia. METHODS: Two experienced surgeons performed 120-W HPS laser PVP. The baseline characteristics, perioperative data, complications, and postoperative outcomes were evaluated at 3, 6, 12, 24, and 36 months postoperatively. RESULTS: A total of 550 consecutive patients, with a mean age of 67.6 years, underwent PVP with a 120-W HPS laser. The mean prostate volume was 72.93 cm3, with a mean prostate-specific antigen level of 3.57 ng/mL. The mean operative duration and the mean applied energy was 61.3 minutes and 164.06 kJ, respectively. No major complication occurred intraoperatively or postoperatively. The mean follow-up was 17.80 months. Significant improvements were observed postoperatively in the mean International Prostate Symptom Score, quality of life score, maximal urinary flow rate, and postvoid residual urine volume. The mean catheterization time was 18.5 hours. The complications included delayed hematuria in 26 (4.8%), recatheterization in 24 (4.4%), reoperation owing to residual prostatic adenoma in 46 (8.5%), urethral stricture in 19 (3.5%), and bladder neck contracture in 6 (1.1%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: PVP with a 120-W HPS laser for benign prostatic hyperplasia has been proved to be a safe and effective procedure for our patients, including those treated with oral anticoagulants. The functional outcome in larger prostates was similar to that in smaller glands.