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Covariance of Particle Size and Shape of Microplastic Pollutants Transported to Terrestrial Dunes from the Shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario, Ny and Pa
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Wind-driven transport deposits microplastics of diverse sizes and shapes—including spheres, fragments, and fibers—from Great Lakes shorelines into terrestrial dune sediments, with surface and subsurface samples both showing contamination. The covariance of particle size and shape in these deposits reflects the physical sorting processes of aeolian transport, informing how microplastics disperse beyond aquatic systems into terrestrial landscapes.
Geologic study of microplastic pollutants is in its infancy. Microplastics are plastic particles that are <5 mm in size and occur in three main forms: spheres/disks, fragments, and fibers. Previous studies have focused on terrestrially produced microplastics in aquatic systems, whereas landward transport of microplastics to terrestrial dunes on the Great Lakes has been documented only recently (Costello and Ebert 2016). Sediment samples were collected and analyzed from terrestrial dunes along the shores of two Great Lakes, Erie and Ontario, in New York and Pennsylvania. Two samples were collected from each location: surface samples and shallow sub-surface samples (1 m 2 ). Sixteen samples from five locations were collected along Lake Erie: Sunset Bay, Dunkirk Harbor, Point Gratiot, Presque Isle State Park (PA) Beach #11, and a dune located near the mouth of Canadaway Creek, Dunkirk, NY. At Sandy Island Beach State Park on Lake Ontario, 6 samples were taken, along three points in the dunes. Standard textural analyses were performed on each sample. Microplastics >1mm were picked by hand. Microplastics <1mm were separated by density with a dilute lithium metatungstate solution. Organic matter in the <1.5 g/mL fraction was digested in a solution of Fe (II) and Hydrogen Peroxide (H 2 O 2 ) to ease observation of microplastics. Onshore winds entrain microplastics from beaches and deliver a wide range of particle sizes and all known microplastic shapes to terrestrial dunes. Samples from Sandy Island Beach and Presque Isle State Park Beach #11 (PA) had the most abundant microplastics with 3-4 spheres and disks per m 2 (sizes >1mm). These spheres and disks are, on average, 1.5 to 2.0 phi coarser than their corresponding siliciclastic modes. Most microplastics <1mm are fragments and fibers. Thus, particle shape and grain size of microplastics correlate. The origin and detailed textural attributes of these fragments and fibers await further study. Although the ecological ramifications of microplastics in lacustrine and marine ecosystems have been investigated, the impact of these pollutants in terrestrial ecosystems is completely unstudied. The widespread presence of microplastics in terrestrial and aquatic environments suggests that these pollutants may become significant stratigraphic markers in the future rock record.
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Transportation of Microplastics to Terrestrial Dunes from the Shorelines of Lake Ontario and Lake Erie, Ny
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Microplastics from Great Lakes shorelines are transported landward by onshore winds and deposited in terrestrial dune sediments along Lakes Ontario and Erie, demonstrating that wind-driven transport extends microplastic contamination beyond aquatic environments. This previously undocumented pathway suggests microplastic pollution in dune ecosystems may be more widespread than current aquatic-focused monitoring captures.
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.
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Researchers conducted seven sampling cruises across Seneca Lake in 2022 to assess spatial and temporal variability of microplastic contamination in a major drinking water source, finding that concentrations fluctuate daily with wind patterns, lake currents, and limnological conditions. The study found that focusing solely on wastewater treatment is insufficient, as precipitation, streams, and atmospheric deposition also contribute significantly to lake contamination.
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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.
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