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Micro-rubber Menace: Pinpointing Particles in Freshwater Systems
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Researchers analyzed microrubber particles in freshwater ecosystems using Lake Champlain long-term monitoring data, examining the sources, transport pathways, and distribution of tire-derived and polyisoprene rubber pellets as a distinct category of microplastic contamination.
Microplastics are a growing concern within freshwater ecosystems and can be found from many sources including landfills, tires, and textiles. They are transported many ways (e.g., wind, runoff, wastewater treatment plant discharges) and biofoul overtime, changing their density and location within the water column. One type of microplastic is microrubber, elastomer particles <= 1mm in size. These are often found from tire abrasion or polyisoprene rubber pellets. Rubber pellets were found in Lake Champlain long-term monitoring (LTM) samples, which were acquired during vertical net sampling that monitors for changes in phytoplankton, zooplankton communities while noting invasive species. We predicted that microrubber will be in greater abundance near urban sites. We examined LTM samples for microrubber and used Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and OpenSpecy to determine the plastics composition. Our results concluded that there was no pattern to microrubber distribution within Lake Champlain and that their presence was recorded lakeside from 2012 onward. In the future, we will continue to process more LTM and tributary samples, and research possible sources of microrubber. To limit the microplastics leaching into our freshwater systems, we must first identify the sources, then find ways to mitigate and manage plastic pollution.
More Papers Like This
The Spatio-Temporal Distribution of Pre Production Rubber Pellets in Lake Champlain
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Researchers investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of pre-production rubber pellets in Lake Champlain using long-term data (1992-present) from 15 lake stations, finding that these 1 mm uniform pellets, first detected in 2012, are distributed throughout the lake with vertical stratification patterns in the water column.
From Beach to Basin: Assessing the Spatio-temporal Distribution of Microplastics in Lake Champlain
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Researchers investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of pre-production plastic pellets in Lake Champlain, examining pollution pathways including roadways, railways, and manufacturing outflows that transport these primary microplastics to freshwater shorelines and basins.
Tire wear particles in different water environments: occurrence, behavior, and biological effects—a review and perspectives
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This review examines tire wear particles, a major but often overlooked source of microplastics in water environments. Tire particles release toxic chemicals as they break down in water and can harm aquatic organisms, but most research has focused only on the chemical leachate rather than the particles themselves. Since tire wear contributes a large share of total microplastic pollution, understanding its full impact on water ecosystems and the food chain is important for human health.
Survey of the Abundance and Distribution of Nurdles and Microplastics in Long-term Monitoring Zooplankton Samples from Lake Champlain
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Researchers surveyed long-term zooplankton monitoring samples from Lake Champlain to map where microplastics and rubber nurdles (small pre-production plastic pellets) accumulate across the lake. The study tested whether pollution was highest near industrial areas and whether fiber-type microplastics were most common, helping build a baseline understanding of plastic contamination in the lake.
Research digests by email
When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.