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A bellwether for microplastic in wetland catchments in the Great Lakes region
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This review examines the distribution, fate, and ecological impacts of microplastics in wetland ecosystems, which serve as both sinks and potential secondary sources of microplastic contamination. Wetlands filter water supplies and support biodiversity, so microplastic accumulation there directly threatens aquatic food webs, drinking water quality, and the communities that depend on these ecosystems.
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Researchers reviewed the growing body of research on microplastic contamination in small inland water bodies — ponds, ditches, and small streams — which are among the most numerous freshwater habitats on Earth but have received little attention compared to oceans and large rivers. These small water bodies may act as significant reservoirs and transport routes for microplastics moving through terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.
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