Microplastic Characterization in the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay Watersheds

Summary

Researchers characterized microplastic pollution across the Chesapeake and Delaware Bay watersheds, documenting polymer types, particle sizes, and spatial distribution patterns in one of the most ecologically and economically important estuarine systems on the U.S. East Coast. High microplastic loads in these heavily fished and recreationally used waters raise concerns about contamination of commercially harvested seafood and recreational exposure pathways for millions of coastal residents.