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Pellets and Fragments Are Most Common Microplastics on the Lake Michigan Beaches of Indiana
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Researchers documented microplastic contamination on five Indiana beaches along Lake Michigan, finding an average of about 25 particles per square meter with pellets and foam as the most common types — concentrations roughly five times higher than those found on Lake Huron beaches. The study adds to evidence that the Great Lakes face significant and geographically variable microplastic pollution pressure.
The presence of microplastics in marine coastal environments has been a concern since the mid to late 1970s, however it was not until recent years that much thought had been given to microplastics within the Great Lakes environment. The objective of this study is to expand on our previous work determining the amount and types of microplastics found along Indiana beaches of Lake Michigan and how these quantities compare with microplastics from beaches of the other Great Lakes. We used four methods – 1) volume reduced, swash line (5 m 2 ) collection, 2) bulk sampling of quadrats (625 cm 2 ) perpendicular to shoreline, 3) by area using lines perpendicular to transect line parallel to shoreline, and 4) by area using 1 m 2 bins – to determine amount of microplastics on five Lake Michigan beaches (Dunbar, Porter, Portage Lakefront, Marquette, and Whihala). Collection of microplastics was done in all seasons, both during stable weather and following storms. Generally, westernmost beach, Whihala, contained largest amount of microplastics, and easternmost beach, Dunbar, contained the least amount of microplastics. Microplastic (< 5mm) was classified into five categories: film, foam, fragments, fiber (line) and pellets (beads). The most common type of microplastic found along the southern Lake Michigan shoreline was pellets (44%), followed by foam (42%), fragments (12%), film (0.66%) and line (0.44%). The beach with largest amount of microplastic was Whihala with an average of 46.96 particles per m 2 . The beach with the least amount of microplastic was Porter with only 10.49 particles per m 2 . The average amount of microplastic per m 2 along the five beaches is 25.12. This is five times higher than that found on Lake Huron shoreline (5.43); it is even higher when compared to beaches of Lakes Ontario, Erie, and St. Clair. It is important to point out that factors such as plastic density, proximity of major ports, as well as natural factors such as littoral drift direction and proximity of lake tributaries, may cause variations in quantities amongst the beaches. This study will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on microplastics presence within the Great Lakes, an important part of communicating the problem to the general public, as well as addressing it.
More Papers Like This
Microplastics in Beach Sediment Along Southern Shores of Lake Michigan
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Microplastics were detected at all four Indiana beaches along southern Lake Michigan, with pellets and foam being the dominant types and concentrations rivaling those found in marine coastal environments. This confirms the Great Lakes as a significant freshwater reservoir of microplastic pollution, raising concerns about contamination of a major drinking water source.
Wrack and Ruin: Characterizing Plastic and Microplastic Occurrences on Southeastern Lake Michigan Beaches
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Surveys of southeastern Lake Michigan beaches identified microplastics including industrial nurdles and shotgun wads from non-local sources, with beach wrack zones acting as accumulation hotspots for both macro- and microplastics. These findings suggest that lake currents and river transport are delivering plastic debris to freshwater beaches far from their point of origin.
Nurdles: Impact of Primary Microplastic Sources on Their Presence in Great Lakes Beach Sediment
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Researchers investigated the sources of preproduction plastic pellets (nurdles) in Great Lakes beach sediment by mapping railroads, manufacturers, ports, and known spill sites within 10 km of shore. Infrared spectroscopy revealed minimal weathering on collected nurdles, suggesting recent local industrial releases rather than long-range environmental transport.
Anthropogenic Grains: Microplastics in Benthic Compartments of the Great Lakes Watershed
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Microplastics have accumulated in the benthic sediments of the Great Lakes basin at concentrations reaching tens of thousands of particles per kilogram, with abundance linked to population density, proximity to industrial facilities, and water current patterns. Because these particles become buried over time, they are likely entering Earth's permanent geologic record while posing ongoing risks to bottom-dwelling organisms.
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.
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When a large batch of papers lands in the Atlas, we read through it and send a short write-up of what stood out.