Detecting microplastics in a great lakes watershed with undergraduate students

We are surrounded by plastic: plastic bags, water bottles, takeaway containers, chocolate wrappers, the list is endless.Unfortunately, many people ignore the massive waste problems associated with plastic, especially single-use plastic, and much of our plastic waste breaks down into microplastics.Now, microplastic pollutants seem to be present everywhere, even in remote areas of our planet like the Arctic and Antarctic.Knowing they pose a serious threat to many aquatic species, Dr Julie Peller, from Valparaiso University in Indiana in the US, has been assessing the levels of microplastics, in particular microfibres, in a Lake Michigan watershed and other Great Lakes ecosystems.Undergraduate research students also contribute to this project, not only to increase awareness about the importance of scientific research but also to contribute to the pool of knowledge as the magnitude of the problem grows daily.As Julie warns, "The negative effects will be exasperated if we do not address the problem."WHY IS PLASTIC SUCH A BIG ISSUE?Plastic is not biodegradable.Unfortunately, instead of being recycled, most of it ends up in a landfill or in the environment, where