Presenter Information

Kaitlyn SpellmanFollow

Presentation Title

Assessing the Risk of Microplastics in Marine Nearshore Environments and Biota Using the Bayesian Network-Relative Risk Model

Presentation Type

Poster

Abstract

Microplastics are emerging as a contaminant of concern in marine environments. Microplastics can cause physical damage to organisms via ingestion or respiration, can interact with other chemical in the environment, and can act as a mode of transport for less mobile microorganisms and toxicants. Their toxicological effects have been documented in recent scientific literature, however their specific mechanisms of action in marine biota are still relatively unknown. Specific stressors associated with plastics include their size, shape, composition, and properties that enable the sorption of contaminants to them. This project will entail sampling multiple locations of the Salish Sea region for the presence, location, size, and area cover of microplastics. Preliminary sampling is planned for Liberty Bay in Poulsbo, WA and Bellingham Bay in Bellingham, WA. These data will be entered into the Bayesian Network-Relative Risk Model (BN-RRM). The BN-RRM is a probabilistic ecological risk assessment framework that will be used to determine the exposure-effect pathways of microplastics to specific, predetermined endpoints in the marine nearshore environment and determine the risks they pose to those endpoints. The BN-RRM will focus on assessing risks associated with the microplastic’s size and types. Other stressors that will be considered in the model include pollutants that are sorbed to the microplastics, and nonindigenous materials such as metals and persistent organic pollutants. The results of this project will be a model that can be updated periodically as more data are collected to elucidate exposure pathways, modes of action, and effects of microplastics on marine biota and nearshore environments.

Start Date

10-5-2018 12:00 PM

End Date

10-5-2018 2:00 PM

Genre/Form

posters

Subjects - Topical (LCSH)

Marine ecology; Organisms; Microplastics; Poisons

Type

Event

Format

application/pdf

Language

English

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COinS
 
May 10th, 12:00 PM May 10th, 2:00 PM

Assessing the Risk of Microplastics in Marine Nearshore Environments and Biota Using the Bayesian Network-Relative Risk Model

Microplastics are emerging as a contaminant of concern in marine environments. Microplastics can cause physical damage to organisms via ingestion or respiration, can interact with other chemical in the environment, and can act as a mode of transport for less mobile microorganisms and toxicants. Their toxicological effects have been documented in recent scientific literature, however their specific mechanisms of action in marine biota are still relatively unknown. Specific stressors associated with plastics include their size, shape, composition, and properties that enable the sorption of contaminants to them. This project will entail sampling multiple locations of the Salish Sea region for the presence, location, size, and area cover of microplastics. Preliminary sampling is planned for Liberty Bay in Poulsbo, WA and Bellingham Bay in Bellingham, WA. These data will be entered into the Bayesian Network-Relative Risk Model (BN-RRM). The BN-RRM is a probabilistic ecological risk assessment framework that will be used to determine the exposure-effect pathways of microplastics to specific, predetermined endpoints in the marine nearshore environment and determine the risks they pose to those endpoints. The BN-RRM will focus on assessing risks associated with the microplastic’s size and types. Other stressors that will be considered in the model include pollutants that are sorbed to the microplastics, and nonindigenous materials such as metals and persistent organic pollutants. The results of this project will be a model that can be updated periodically as more data are collected to elucidate exposure pathways, modes of action, and effects of microplastics on marine biota and nearshore environments.