We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
A watershed-scale, citizen science approach to quantifying microplastic concentration in a mixed land-use river
AI summary Read the abstract
Trained citizen scientists collected water samples at 72 sites across the Gallatin River watershed in Montana and found microplastics at all locations, with higher concentrations in areas downstream of urban land use. The study demonstrates that citizen science can effectively generate watershed-scale microplastic data while also linking plastic pollution to land use patterns.
Microplastic (particles < 5 mm) pollution dynamics are well documented in oceans and increasingly studied in freshwater. We used a watershed-scale approach to examine spatial and temporal patterns in microplastic concentrations in the Gallatin River watershed (Montana, USA). At 72 sites, trained volunteers collected ∼1-L grab samples at 4 seasons per year over 2 years (n = 714 samples). Microplastics were found in 57% of the samples (mean = 1.2 particles L). The majority of particles were fibers (80%), 0.1-1.5 mm long. Chemical identification determined 93% of particles measured by μFT-IR were synthetic or semi-synthetic materials. Microplastic concentration differed significantly among dates, but showed no longitudinal pattern or relationship to land-use among subwatersheds. At two sites with gaging stations, microplastic was negatively related to discharge when compared across dates. This suggests stormwater is not a source of microplastic in this watershed, but instead dilutes microplastic inputs from other sources. We conclude that microplastic sources are diverse, and measurements of microplastic deposition, resuspension, and transport may be needed to clarify the role of land-use patterns on microplastic pollution. This large scale, citizen science based approach provides a model for future analysis which can further expand microplastic collection at the watershed scale.
More Papers Like This
Citizen science sampling programs as a technique for monitoring microplastic pollution: results, lessons learned and recommendations for working with volunteers for monitoring plastic pollution in freshwater ecosystems
AI summary Read the abstract
Volunteers monitored microplastic contamination along 550 km of the Ottawa River in Canada using a standardized method, finding microplastics at almost every sampling site. Citizen science programs like this show promise for scaling up microplastic monitoring at low cost.
Comparison of the macro-, meso- and microplastic pollution in French riverbanks and beaches using citizen science with schoolchildren
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers conducted a citizen science initiative with French schoolchildren to compare macro-, meso-, and microplastic pollution across 86 riverbank and beach sites, finding that riverbanks accumulated distinct plastic assemblages compared to beaches. The study demonstrated that schoolchildren can generate reliable comparative litter data, and highlighted rivers as underrepresented yet critical plastic transport pathways to the ocean.
Have You Ever Seen a Microplastic? A Collaborative High School–Academia Approach for Identification, Quantification and Raising Awareness of Microplastics in a River Crossing Urban Area
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers designed a high school–university collaboration where students collected water samples from an urban river, identified microplastics by microscopy, and contributed to local pollution mapping — demonstrating that student-led citizen science can meaningfully advance microplastic monitoring while raising environmental awareness.
Comparison of macrolitter and meso- and microplastic pollution on French riverbanks and coastal beaches using citizen science with schoolchildren
AI summary Read the abstract
A citizen science project with 3,113 French schoolchildren sampled 81 riverbanks and 66 coastal beaches, collecting 55,986 plastic pieces, and found that riverbanks had comparable plastic pollution levels to beaches, highlighting rivers as underrecognized plastic accumulation zones.
Can we investigate microplastic pollution with school students? Experiences from eight years of citizen science research
AI summary Read the abstract
Researchers shared eight years of experience from the Plastic Pirates citizen science program involving over 24,000 school students and teachers in microplastic research across Germany, addressing challenges of contamination prevention, particle size, and sample processing in non-laboratory settings. The study evaluated the feasibility and scientific validity of engaging young citizen scientists in standardized riverine microplastic monitoring.
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.