Streaming Media
Presentation Abstract
In 2020, 368 million tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, with 59% common polymers (i.e. polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride). The rate of input of ocean plastic is estimated to be approximately 9.5 million tonnes per year. Primary plastics are those manufactured at the size for use, and secondary plastics are those that have broken down from primary plastics. Size-categories for plastics are macroplastics (> 5 mm) and microplastics (< 5 mm). This project explores microplastics in sediments collected throughout the Puget Sound from 2014-2021 to create baseline observations and determine if plastic pollution in sediments have changed over time. Washington State Department of Ecology’s Marine Sediment Monitoring Team has provided sediment samples to analyze for microplastics since 2014. Long-term stations have been sampled using a grab sampler to recover 2-3 cm of the top sediment from the seabed. Researchers at the University of Washington Tacoma analyzed the sediments for the presence of microplastic throughout Puget Sound. Results from the 2014-2021 long-term monitoring stations showed that microplastics were found every year in all samples, except for one sample taken in 2017. Data for 2020 is missing since sampling did not occur due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued monitoring for microplastics in sediments throughout the Puget Sound is needed to understand the sinks of this emerging pollutant. We offer special thanks to the Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Sediment Monitoring Program for collecting samples.
Session Title
Poster Session 4: People Working Together to Protect the Salish Sea
Conference Track
SSE14: Posters
Conference Name
Salish Sea Ecosystem Conference (2022 : Online)
Document Type
Event
SSEC Identifier
SSE-posters-269
Start Date
27-4-2022 4:30 PM
End Date
27-4-2022 5:00 PM
Type of Presentation
Poster
Genre/Form
conference proceedings; presentations (communicative events); posters
Subjects – Topical (LCSH)
Microplastics--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Measurement; Microplastics--Environmental testing--Washington (State)--Puget Sound; Marine sediments--Washington (State)--Puget Sound--Analysis
Geographic Coverage
Puget Sound (Wash.)
Rights
Copying of this document in whole or in part is allowable only for scholarly purposes. It is understood, however, that any copying or publication of this document for commercial purposes, or for financial gain, shall not be allowed without the author's written permission.
Type
Text
Language
English
Format
application/pdf
Included in
Fresh Water Studies Commons, Marine Biology Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
Mapping of Microplastics in Surface Sediments of Puget Sound to Determine Impacts on Benthic Communities from 2014-2021
In 2020, 368 million tonnes of plastics were produced worldwide, with 59% common polymers (i.e. polyethylene, polypropylene, polyvinyl chloride). The rate of input of ocean plastic is estimated to be approximately 9.5 million tonnes per year. Primary plastics are those manufactured at the size for use, and secondary plastics are those that have broken down from primary plastics. Size-categories for plastics are macroplastics (> 5 mm) and microplastics (< 5 mm). This project explores microplastics in sediments collected throughout the Puget Sound from 2014-2021 to create baseline observations and determine if plastic pollution in sediments have changed over time. Washington State Department of Ecology’s Marine Sediment Monitoring Team has provided sediment samples to analyze for microplastics since 2014. Long-term stations have been sampled using a grab sampler to recover 2-3 cm of the top sediment from the seabed. Researchers at the University of Washington Tacoma analyzed the sediments for the presence of microplastic throughout Puget Sound. Results from the 2014-2021 long-term monitoring stations showed that microplastics were found every year in all samples, except for one sample taken in 2017. Data for 2020 is missing since sampling did not occur due to restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Continued monitoring for microplastics in sediments throughout the Puget Sound is needed to understand the sinks of this emerging pollutant. We offer special thanks to the Department of Ecology’s Puget Sound Sediment Monitoring Program for collecting samples.
