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The Long & the Short of It: Can We Distinguish Microplastic Sources in Seneca Lake Using Fiber Length?
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Researchers used microplastic fiber length distributions in Seneca Lake sediments to attempt to distinguish between different pollution sources such as atmospheric deposition versus wastewater effluent. Developing source-attribution methods for microplastics is essential for prioritizing reduction strategies and understanding which human activities most significantly contribute to freshwater contamination.
Microplastics—synthetic polymer fragments, pellets, films, and fibers smaller t...
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Fibers, Fibers Everywhere: First Look at Microplastics in the Human Water Cycle of Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes of New York, Usa
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Researchers took a holistic approach to tracing microplastic sources and sinks in Seneca Lake, a drinking water source, sampling streams, wastewater, rainfall, air deposition, lake water, sediments, fish, and tap water. They found microplastics concentrated at the lake's north end driven by wind and currents, with PET fibers dominating and tap water containing approximately 1,000 particles per liter across all sampled buildings.
It’s Complicated: Spatial and Temporal Variation in Microplastic Pollution in Seneca Lake, Finger Lakes, New York, Usa
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Researchers conducted seven sampling cruises across Seneca Lake in 2022 to assess spatial and temporal variability of microplastic contamination in a major drinking water source, finding that concentrations fluctuate daily with wind patterns, lake currents, and limnological conditions. The study found that focusing solely on wastewater treatment is insufficient, as precipitation, streams, and atmospheric deposition also contribute significantly to lake contamination.
A Reconnaissance of Microplastic Distribution in a Small Michigan Watershed
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A reconnaissance survey of microplastics in the Lake Macatawa watershed in Michigan found that storm sewer outfalls and wastewater treatment plant discharges were the primary local sources, with microplastics detected in beach sediments and downstream sites but at relatively low counts in upstream rural streams. This suggests that urban infrastructure—stormwater systems and wastewater effluent—is the dominant pathway delivering microplastics to freshwater systems in non-coastal US communities.
Spatiotemporal variability of microplastics in Muskoka-Haliburton headwater lakes, Ontario, Canada
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A survey of 14 headwater lakes in rural Ontario found average microplastic concentrations of 1.78 particles per liter, with atmospheric deposition identified as the dominant input source rather than local human activity or watershed size. Seasonal variability was pronounced, with summer concentrations roughly half those of spring, while sediment burial accounted for only 14% of annual removal, suggesting these pollutants persist in the water column.
Occurrence, Sources, Transport, and Fate of Microplastics in the Great Lakes–St. Lawrence River Basin
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Researchers documented that microplastics smaller than five millimeters are present throughout the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River system, from tributary streams to the Atlantic Ocean. This finding suggests that the Great Lakes region is both a major accumulation zone and a transport pathway for microplastic pollution into the broader marine environment.
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.