We can't find the internet
Attempting to reconnect
Something went wrong!
Hang in there while we get back on track
Papers
61,005 resultsShowing papers similar to Plastic Pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes: Informing a Coordinated, Regional Management Response
ClearTowards a management strategy for microplastic pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes - Monitoring (Part 1)
This review outlines a proposed monitoring strategy for microplastic contamination in the Laurentian Great Lakes, addressing sampling methods, key knowledge gaps, and recommendations to support effective management of plastic pollution in this major freshwater system.
Plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes: A review
This review synthesized available data on plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes, including both surface water surveys and shoreline monitoring, finding levels comparable to those in oceanic garbage patches in some areas. The review highlighted the Great Lakes as a significant freshwater plastic pollution hotspot requiring targeted research and management.
Inventory and transport of plastic debris in the Laurentian Great Lakes
Researchers modeled plastic debris transport in the Laurentian Great Lakes using hydrodynamic current data and population-based input estimates, calculating that approximately 9,887 metric tons of plastic enter the lakes annually, with surface microplastic mass concentrated in Lakes Erie and Huron based on sampling-calibrated simulations.
Microplastic pollution in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes
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.
Distribution and Modeled Transport of Plastic Pollution in the Great Lakes, the World's Largest Freshwater Resource
Researchers conducted field surveys of plastic pollution across the Great Lakes and associated rivers, combining surface trawl measurements with hydrodynamic transport modelling to characterise concentrations, fluxes, and pathways of plastic litter from freshwater to the ocean.
Environmental Chemical Contaminants in Food: Review of a Global Problem
This study measured microplastic contamination in the surface waters of the Laurentian Great Lakes and found plastic particles present across all five lakes. The majority of particles were fragments and fibers, with the highest concentrations found near urban areas and in downstream lakes. The findings indicate that the Great Lakes are a significant reservoir of microplastic pollution, with densities comparable to those reported in marine environments.
On the likelihood of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great Lakes
This review assessed the likelihood of ecological risks from microplastics in the Laurentian Great Lakes, identifying significant challenges for risk assessment due to inconsistent data quality and lack of standardized methods, and calling for policy development to address microplastic pollution in these iconic ecosystems.
Categorization of plastic debris on sixty-six beaches of the Laurentian Great Lakes, North America
Researchers categorized 21,592 plastic debris items from 66 beaches across the Laurentian Great Lakes and found that pre-production plastic pellets dominated at 58% of total items, with the highest densities exceeding 800 items/m2 at beaches near industrial areas in Ontario, Canada.
Towards a management strategy for microplastic pollution in the Laurentian Great Lakes—ecological risk assessment and management (part 2)
Researchers applied ecological risk assessment frameworks to evaluate microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes and found that some areas may pose measurable risks to aquatic communities. By comparing proposed safety thresholds with actual monitoring data, they identified specific locations where microplastic concentrations exceed levels considered safe for freshwater organisms. The study represents an important step toward developing practical management strategies for microplastic pollution in one of the world's largest freshwater systems.
Research status and prospects of microplastic pollution in lakes
This review systematically covers microplastic pollution research in lakes, including sampling and identification methods, distribution patterns, ecological effects, and knowledge gaps, identifying lakes as important but understudied sinks for microplastic contamination.
Direct Microplastic Inputs from Wastewater Treatment Plants to the Laurentian Great Lakes
Despite retaining over 70% of incoming microplastics, wastewater treatment plants on the Great Lakes still discharge substantial quantities into this critical freshwater system, making them important targets for reducing microplastic pollution.
From Beach to Basin: Assessing the Spatio-temporal Distribution of Microplastics in Lake Champlain
Researchers investigated the spatio-temporal distribution of pre-production plastic pellets in Lake Champlain, examining pollution pathways including roadways, railways, and manufacturing outflows that transport these primary microplastics to freshwater shorelines and basins.
Plastic Debris in 29 Great Lakes Tributaries: Relations to Watershed Attributes and Hydrology
Researchers surveyed plastic debris in 29 Great Lakes tributaries and found widespread contamination, with higher debris loads associated with larger watershed populations, more impervious land surface, and greater storm drain density.
Microplastics in the Great Lakes: Environmental, Health, and Socioeconomic Implications and Future Directions
This review examined the environmental, health, and socioeconomic implications of microplastic pollution in the Great Lakes, where plastics make up the majority of litter. The study highlights that microplastics can be taken up by aquatic organisms and enter the food chain, and may also serve as vectors for chemical pollutants and pathogens, raising concerns about both ecosystem and human health impacts.
Global microplastic contamination in freshwater lakes: Spatial patterns, environmental drivers, and methodological challenges
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.
Source-specific categorization of microplastics in nearshore surface waters of the Great Lakes
A source-specific characterization study of microplastics in nearshore surface waters of the Great Lakes found the highest abundances near urban centers, with distinct polymer and color signatures linking particles to packaging, fibers, and industrial sources.
Microplastic pollution in lakes: Sources, impact, and solutions
This review comprehensively covers the sources, pathways, ecological impacts, and remediation strategies for microplastic pollution in freshwater lakes, highlighting how particles from urban runoff, wastewater, and atmospheric deposition accumulate in lake ecosystems and transfer into food webs.
A survey on the effect of plastic pollution in the Great Lakes
This review surveys plastic pollution in the Great Lakes of North America, examining the distribution of micro-, meso-, and macroplastics across these ecologically and economically important freshwater systems. The Great Lakes contain significant quantities of microplastics from surrounding urban and industrial areas, threatening freshwater biodiversity and drinking water quality.
Microplastics in lakes: Distribution patterns and influencing factors
This review analyzed 84 studies across 64 lakes worldwide to understand where microplastics tend to concentrate in freshwater systems. Microplastic levels were highest near areas of heavy human activity and water inflows, and concentrations in lake sediments have been increasing over time, which matters because lakes are important sources of drinking water.
Estimation of plastic waste accumulation in the Arctic
Researchers analyzed sources, spatial distribution patterns, and mass transfer dynamics of plastic and microplastic pollution in the Arctic, proposing plastic waste management approaches and a community-based monitoring program to track microplastic accumulation across Arctic regions.
A comparative review of microplastics in lake systems from different countries and regions
Researchers reviewed microplastic contamination data from lake systems across multiple countries, finding that abundance, size, and polymer type varied widely by region and identifying land use, population density, and hydrological connectivity as key drivers of lake microplastic levels.
Plastics in Freshwater Bodies
This review provides a comprehensive assessment of methods for monitoring and modeling plastics -- from macroplastics to nanoplastics -- in freshwater bodies including rivers and lakes, mapping global study distributions. It identifies four key knowledge gaps warranting greater attention: temporal variation, cross-compartment transfer, harmonization of size ranges across monitoring and modeling studies, and data quality control.
Modeling the three-dimensional transport and distribution of multiple microplastic polymer types in Lake Erie
Researchers used a three-dimensional Lagrangian transport model to simulate the movement and deposition of nine polymer types in Lake Erie, accounting for advection, density-driven sinking, and turbulent mixing, and calibrated the model against surface samples to estimate total plastic mass in the lake.
Canadian activities on plastic pollution
This paper reviews Canadian research and regulatory activities on plastic pollution, summarizing national monitoring programs, policy developments, and scientific contributions to understanding plastic fate and effects in Canadian environments.