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Anthropogenic particles in natural sediment sinks: Microplastics accumulation in tributary, beach and lake bottom sediments of Lake Ontario, North America
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Researchers found microplastics in tributary, beach, and lake bottom sediments across Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River, with highest concentrations near urban and industrial areas—reaching up to 28,000 particles per kilogram of sediment near Toronto. The study establishes baseline contamination levels for this major North American freshwater system and warns of risks to bottom-dwelling organisms.
Surface waters of the Great Lakes are known to be contaminated with microplastics, however, microplastics in the sediments of the region are poorly documented. This study provides a baseline of micro- and macro-plastics contamination in nearshore, tributary and beach sediments of Lake Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River. Microplastics were quantified and characterized by morphology and composition using visual identification and Raman spectroscopy. Microplastics are most concentrated in nearshore sediments in the vicinity of urban and industrial regions. Concentrations in Humber Bay and Toronto Harbour consistently measured > 500 particles per kg dry sediment, and maximum concentrations of ~28,000 particles per kg dry sediment were quantified at Etobicoke Creek. Sourced from consumer and industrial activity, abundant plastics in Lake Ontario coastal environments are unnatural persistent contaminants warranting urgent action for the protection of benthic fauna and ecosystem health.
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Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments
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Researchers surveyed microplastic contamination in Lake Ontario sediments from nearshore areas, tributaries, and beaches to map pollution patterns. They found the highest concentrations near urban and industrial zones, particularly in Toronto Harbour, where levels exceeded 500 particles per kilogram of sediment. The study identifies wastewater outflows and urban runoff as key sources of microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes region.
Microplastics entering northwestern Lake Ontario are diverse and linked to urban sources
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Scientists analyzed microplastics and anthropogenic particles entering Lake Ontario from the Greater Toronto Area, finding diverse particle types linked to stormwater runoff, wastewater effluents, and urban atmospheric deposition, with synthetic textiles and tire rubber as dominant sources.
Lake sediments as microplastic sink: The case of three lakes from Northern and Central Poland
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Researchers measured microplastic concentrations in bottom sediments from three lakes in northern and central Poland with low surrounding human activity, finding between 4 and 21 microplastic particles per kilogram of wet sediment. These values were low compared to lakes in urbanized areas, suggesting anthropogenic pressure significantly drives sediment microplastic accumulation.
Microplastic pollution in St. Lawrence River sediments
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Researchers found polyethylene microbeads in sediments of the St. Lawrence River at concentrations that increased downstream toward the heavily populated Quebec City area. The study is one of the first to document microplastics in the sediments of a major North American freshwater system and confirms that urban wastewater is a primary source.
Factors controlling the abundance, distribution, and composition of macroplastic and microplastic particles in tributary, beach, and benthic sediments of Lake Erie, Ontario
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This study examined the factors controlling the abundance, distribution, and composition of microplastics in tributary, beach, and benthic sediments of Lake Erie, finding that urban tributaries contained more microplastics than rural ones and that backshore beach zones accumulated more plastic than foreshores. The findings highlight how watershed urbanization and beach dynamics control microplastic distribution in one of North America's largest freshwater lakes.
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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.