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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.
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. Recent studies suggest that the concentration of microplastics within the Great Lakes may be equal too, or even greater than that within marine environments. The objective of this study is to determine the amount and types of microplastics along four Indiana beaches of southern Lake Michigan and see how these quantities compare with microplastics from beaches of other Great Lakes, and with microplastics from marine beaches. We used two methods – 1) volume reduced, swash line (5 m 2 ) collection, and 2) bulk sampling of quadrats (625 cm 2 ) perpendicular to shoreline – to determine amount of microplastics on four Lake Michigan beaches (Porter, Dunbar, Marquette, and Whihala) . Microplastic (< 5mm) was classified into five categories: film, foam, fragments, fiber (line), pellets (beads). The most common type of microplastic found along the southern Lake Michigan shoreline was pellets/beads (44%), followed by foam (42%), fragments (12%), film (0.66%) and line (0.44%). Of the beaches studied, the beach with the most amount of microplastic was found to be Whihala with an average of 49.15 particles of microplastic per m 2 . The beach with the least amount of microplastic was Porter with only 5.7 particles of microplastic per m 2 . The average amount of microplastic contained per m 2 along the four beaches studied is 27.59. This number is five times higher than that found on the shoreline of Lake Huron by other researchers (5.43); it is even higher than that when compared to Lakes Erie and St. Clair. It is important to point out that factors such as plastic density, as well as natural factors such as currents, may cause variations in quantities amongst the different locations. This study will contribute to the growing body of knowledge on the presence of microplastics within the Great Lakes, an important part of communicating the problem to the general public, as well as addressing it. Further work will consist of studying different parts of the coastal system.
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.