Quantifying and Characterizing Microplastics in the Greater Philadelphia Region

Plastic is one of the world's most useful and versatile materials, so it is no wonder that 400 million tons are produced yearly. When exposed to weathering, heat, water, and organisms, plastic degrades and produces microplastics. These microplastics have managed to leach into our oceans, local waterways, bodies, and even our atmosphere. The negative implications of microplastic contamination in our environment are slowly being uncovered with concerns of toxin buildup. Additionally, the amount of microplastics we are exposed to through local waterways is rarely quantified. Though microplastic research is picking up pace, the Schuylkill River which spans the Greater Philadelphia region has not been tested for microplastic contaminant type and prevalence. By quantifying microplastic concentrations in the Schuylkill River over six months, we found that their concentrations stayed relatively constant across five different sites. However, severe weather conditions such as rainfall cause runoff of water and microplastics, subsequently resulting in accumulation in certain sites. Additionally, polyethylene (PE) was found across all sites, as well as other types of polymers such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). The detection of microplastics suggests urban and industrial sources of pollution, starting from the upstream locations and extending across the Greater Philadelphia region. Our findings highlight a concrete presence of microplastics in the Schuylkill River and emphasize the need for mitigation strategies to reduce further contamination of local waterways.