MICROPLASTICS IN FRESHWATER SEDIMENT: TRACKING CHANGES OVER TIME

Global plastic production has exponentially increased since the mid 1900s. Since the 2000s microplastics have been found in nearly every environment and medium imaginable. Here we collected sediment cores from reservoirs and estuary locations in Pennsylvania, United States (US), and found that microplastic contamination corresponds with increasing global plastic production. Watershed land use and population density were examined ass potential indicators of microplastic sources. Surprisingly, urban areas did not contain the highest microplastic concentrations but did exhibit the greatest morphological diversity compared to other locations. Polymer type was also examined in a subset of cores and changes in diversity of polymer type were observed with time.