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Distribution, Abundance, and Spatial Variability of Microplastic Pollution in Surface Waters of Lake Superior
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Microplastic pollution was surveyed across the surface waters of Lake Superior, providing the first systematic spatial distribution data for the largest of the Laurentian Great Lakes. The study found microplastics throughout the lake and identified patterns of accumulation relevant to understanding how plastics enter and distribute in large freshwater systems.
Plastic pollution in oceans and lakes has been a concern for more than three decades, and largely through the breakdown of large plastics, microplastic pollution has been of real concern for over 20 years.Most research has focused on marine settings but freshwater systems are equally vulnerable to microplastic pollution.The Laurentian Great Lakes system has been the subject of little microplastic research and Lake Superior has received even less focus than the other four lakes.The objective of this study is to fill that knowledge gap and determine the abundance and spatial distribution, spatial variability, and polymer identities of microplastic pollution in the surface waters of Lake Superior.In 2014, 94 double net samples were collected from the surface waters of Lake Superior and preserved.These samples comprise the most comprehensive surface water survey of any of the Great Lakes to date, and the first to employ double neuston net trawls.Since there is not yet a standardized sampling method, a comparison of side-by-side samples will indicate whether single net surveys are sufficient and could be used as the standard sampling method.A total of 187 samples was processed using wet peroxide oxidation and analyzed using a dissecting microscope.A sampling of all plastic particles collected were also analyzed using FTIR spectrometry to determine polymer identity.Abundances calculated throughout Lake Superior show wide variability, ranging between 4,000 to more than 100,000 particles/km 2 but the majority of locations have an abundance between 20,000 to 50,000 particles/km 2 .Average abundance in Lake Superior is 30,271 particles/km 2 (95% confidence interval of the mean ranges from 20,917 to 39,797 particles/km 2 ) which suggests a total count of more than 2.4 billion (1.7 to ! iii First and foremost I want to thank my supervisors,
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Researchers sampled the pelagic water column and air-water interface at four locations in western Lake Superior to characterize the presence and depth distribution of microplastics under both stratified and unstratified seasonal conditions. Results confirmed microplastics are present throughout the Lake Superior water column, revealing that surface-only sampling significantly underestimates total microplastic loads in this Great Lakes system.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes
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Researchers documented microplastic pollution across the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes, finding contamination in all lakes sampled — particularly Lake Erie — with fibers as the dominant particle type, highlighting plastic pollution in a critical freshwater system.
Plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes System, North America: Analysis of types, abundances, and sources
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Researchers conducted the first systematic analysis of all sizes and types of plastic debris across all five of the Laurentian Great Lakes. They found that plastic pollution is widespread, with urban areas, shoreline recreation, and nearby industries as the primary sources.
An analysis of microlitter and microplastics from Lake Superior beach sand and surface-water
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Researchers sampled beach sand and surface water in the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore of Lake Superior, finding microlitter particles including microplastics even in this relatively pristine Great Lakes environment, with samples collected in May and July 2018.
Global microplastic contamination in freshwater lakes: Spatial patterns, environmental drivers, and methodological challenges
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This review systematically analyzed 84 studies covering more than 300 lakes worldwide to assess global microplastic contamination in freshwater lake systems. Surface water MP concentrations ranged from below 0.001 to over 200 MP/L, with fibers and fragments dominating, polyethylene and polypropylene most common, and highest levels found in shallow, lowland, and eutrophic systems near urbanized shorelines.
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