COASTAL VERSUS TERRESTRIAL DEPOSITION OF ATMOSPHERIC MICROPLASTICS IN CALIFORNIA

Micro- (<5mm diameter) and nano-plastics (1nm-1 μm diameter) are ubiquitous pollutants to marine and atmospheric environments. While not fully understood, the presence of atmospheric microplastics (AMP) is potentially detrimental to the health of humans and animals. This study characterizes AMP deposition in two ‘pristine’ terrestrial and coastal environments in California: Lake Tahoe and Monterey Bay, respectively. Atmospheric total suspended particulate matter was collected weekly at the two sites and AMP concentration in samples from 2007 to present were determined using fluorescent microscopy and ImageJ software to track changes particle abundance over time. AMP polymer type and information of shape and particle accumulation over time series were also obtained. NOAA HYSPLIT database flow trajectories are used to infer probable AMP source regions. This study aims to detect AMP in ‘pristine’ locations in hopes to draw awareness to how consumer habits are affecting the environment and subsequently the public’s health.