Major
Environmental Science
Anticipated Graduation Year
2023
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
Microplastic (<5mm) pollution is ubiquitous worldwide. The distribution of plastic particles in freshwater tributaries is ‘patchy’ showing an accumulation of particles in depositional zones, which have naturally occurring fine particles. Microplastics may be ‘sorted’ by density; denser particles in the sediment and less dense particles on the water’s surface. The purpose of this study is to determine the spatial distribution of microplastic by polymer type in 3 river habitats: surface water, water column, and benthic. So far in our study, we have found microplastics of all types can sink and become part of the sediment. Our next steps in the project are to complete the micro-FTIR analysis and compare our results to that of fish and macroinvertebrates at the same sites.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Tim Hoellein, Ph.D., Biology; RE McNeish, Biology
Supported By
Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant, National Science Foundation
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Microplastic Abundance across Aquatic Habitats in Lake Michigan Tributaries
Microplastic (<5mm) pollution is ubiquitous worldwide. The distribution of plastic particles in freshwater tributaries is ‘patchy’ showing an accumulation of particles in depositional zones, which have naturally occurring fine particles. Microplastics may be ‘sorted’ by density; denser particles in the sediment and less dense particles on the water’s surface. The purpose of this study is to determine the spatial distribution of microplastic by polymer type in 3 river habitats: surface water, water column, and benthic. So far in our study, we have found microplastics of all types can sink and become part of the sediment. Our next steps in the project are to complete the micro-FTIR analysis and compare our results to that of fish and macroinvertebrates at the same sites.