As plastic pollution reaches alarming levels in ecosystems around the world, a new study traces the crisis to decades of industrial growth. A study led by an interdisciplinary team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania examines the increase in microplastics in freshwater environments and links it to a global increase in plastic production since the 1950s. Tracking Freshwater Microplastics
Export was tracking levels of microplastics in freshwater sediments until the mid-20th century. They found a clear link between the increase in microplastic concentration and the global increase in plastic production.
“Our system is one of the first to monitor microplastic levels in freshwater sediments from the 1950s to the present, showing that concentrations have increased in line with plastic production,” said Nathaniel Warner, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Penn State. university
Research focus
Microplastics are tiny particles of plastic that range in size from one-hundredth the width of a human hair to the size of a pencil eraser. The study focused on sediment cores from four watersheds in Pennsylvania: Kiskimetas River, Blacklick Creek, Raystown Lake, and Darby Creek. Interestingly, the team found that high levels of microplastics could be detected regardless of population density or land use.
A landscape of plastic recycling and accumulation
Lisa Emily, an assistant professor of physical geography and environmental studies at Penn State Altoona, explained how the results differ from previous studies. “Based on other findings in the literature, it turns out that what we thought was important was not the driver of variation in microplastics across locations, specifically the percentage of microplastics associated with residential area and population density,” Emily said.
The researchers found a decrease in microplastic accumulation from 2010 to 2020, a timeline that coincides with increased recycling efforts. Observations from the US Environmental Protection Agency support this conclusion. The agency reported a significant increase in plastic recycling efforts from 1980 to 2010.
The mystery of the missing plastic
Raymond Najar, an oceanography professor at the University of Pennsylvania, believes this research could clarify the “missing plastic” paradox. This refers to the discrepancy between the estimated amount of plastic waste entering the ocean each year and the apparent amount that can be found on the ocean surface.
Professor Najjar suggested that estuaries, particularly tidal marshes, could trap plastics carried by rivers, preventing them from reaching the ocean.
“This may explain why there is much less plastic floating on the ocean surface than would be expected given the input into the ocean from rivers,” Professor Najjar said.
It is necessary to reduce plastic consumption
The research team predicts that the concentration of microplastics in both water and sediment will continue to increase. “People ingest plastic while eating, drinking, and breathing it in, and the long-term effects have only just begun to be studied,” Warner said.
“But we need to figure out how to throw less plastic into the environment and reduce consumption and impact.”
Conclusions of the study and future research directions
Bringing together an interdisciplinary team from three campuses, five colleges, and five disciplines, Emily emphasized the importance of this collaboration.
“We combined complementary skills from our fields of chemistry, engineering, hydrology, oceanography and soil science.”
Emily also noted that the research project was initially funded by a grant from the Institute for Energy and Environment, which “served as an ‘incubator’ to continue and expand our work with a specific focus on the fate and transport of microplastics in freshwater environments.” in coastal areas.”
Going forward, Professor Warner hopes to explore how the composition and types of microplastics evolve over time. He also wants to evaluate the health risks involved.
The research was supported by the US National Science Foundation, the Commonwealth Campus Center Nodes (C3N) Program and the Energy and Environment Institute. Ultimately, the research aims to expand our understanding of microplastics’ pathways from land to sea and inspire long-term solutions to reduce pollution and associated health risks. The study was published in the journal Total Environmental Science.
Source: Port Altele
