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*WINNER* Determination of microplastic content in western Tennessee lakes
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Microplastics were detected in two Tennessee lakes with differing levels of human activity, with higher concentrations in the more heavily used lake. The study highlights that even inland freshwater bodies are contaminated with microplastics and that human activity intensifies contamination levels.
Studies have shown that plastics degrade into microplastics with a diameter of 5mm or less. Many studies have been completed on the presence of microplastics in marine environments, with fewer studies on freshwater environments. This study attempts to determine the content of microplastics in two freshwater lakes in Tennessee that have varying degrees of human activity near the lake — Kentucky Lake on the Tennessee River and Maple’s Creek Lake isolated in the Natchez Trace State Park. Samples were collected from various locations within the two lakes via bulk sampling. The size of the microplastics were determined with a particle size analyzer, and then the chemical composition of the particles was determined by FT-IR.
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Determination of microplastic content in freshwater lakes in western Tennessee
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This American master's thesis determined microplastic content in freshwater lakes in western Tennessee using sampling and analytical methods. The study quantified and characterized microplastic particles from these inland water bodies.
Characterization of microplastics in sediments and surface waters of Turkish lakes
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Researchers surveyed seven lakes in Turkey and found microplastics in all of them, with polyethylene and polypropylene being the most common types. Human activities like tourism, fishing, and urban waste disposal were identified as major sources, showing that even protected lake areas are contaminated with plastic particles that can enter drinking water supplies.
Microplastics in a touristic and a remote freshwater lake in Türkiye: comparative patterns in water and sediments
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Scientists compared tiny plastic particles (microplastics) in two Turkish lakes—one popular with tourists and one remote and untouched—and found plastic pollution in both, even the lake far from people. This suggests microplastics can travel long distances through wind, water, or sediment rather than just coming from local sources like tourists, meaning even "pristine" lakes we drink from or swim in may not be as plastic-free as they seem.
Monitoring of microplastic concentrations in 132 Iowa lakes in relation to abiotic, biotic, and anthropogenic factors
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Researchers surveyed microplastic concentrations in 132 lakes across Iowa, examining how biological, physical, and human factors influence plastic levels. Lakes near populated areas and with greater human activity showed higher microplastic concentrations, demonstrating that freshwater lakes are broadly contaminated by plastic pollution.
Variability of microplastic loading and retention in four inland lakes in Minnesota, USA
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Researchers measured microplastic levels in four small lakes in Minnesota and found that watershed size and urban development were the biggest factors driving contamination. Surface water concentrations varied widely, and sediment levels did not directly correlate with what was found in the water above. The study highlights how local land use patterns influence where microplastics end up in freshwater ecosystems.
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