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 in Elliot Bay near Seattle, WA 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. A part of the 4-year rotation of urban bays, stations were 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. This poster will present the results from a summer research program hosted at the University of Washington Tacoma. Preliminary results have shown the presence of microfibers in all samples. Continued monitoring for microplastics in sediments Elliot Bay 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-278
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)--Elliott Bay; Marine sediments--Washington (State)--Elliott Bay--Analysis; Benthic ecology--Washington (State)--Elliott Bay
Geographic Coverage
Elliott Bay (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
2021 Mapping of Microplastics in Surface Sediments of Elliot Bay near Seattle, WA to Determine Impacts on Benthic Communities
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 in Elliot Bay near Seattle, WA 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. A part of the 4-year rotation of urban bays, stations were 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. This poster will present the results from a summer research program hosted at the University of Washington Tacoma. Preliminary results have shown the presence of microfibers in all samples. Continued monitoring for microplastics in sediments Elliot Bay 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.
