TY - JOUR

T1 - An affordable methodology for quantifying waterborne microplastics - an emerging contaminant in inland-waters

AU - Dunn, Christian

AU - Owens, Jedd

AU - Fears, Luke

AU - Nunnerley, Laura

AU - Kirby, Julian

AU - Armstrong, Oliver

AU - Thomas, P. John

AU - Aberg, Dan

AU - Gilder, William

AU - Green, Dannielle

AU - Antwis, Rachael

AU - Freeman, Chris

PY - 2020/2

Y1 - 2020/2

N2 - The occurrence of microplastics in marine habitats is well documented and of growing concern. The presence of these small (<5 mm) pieces of plastic is less well recorded in inland water systems. In this paper, we determine a cost-efficient and straightforward method for the collection and identification of microplastics in UK inland waters. We found pieces of microplastic from all sample sites ranging from over 1000 L-1 in the River Tame, to 2.4 L-1 in Loch Lomond. The presence of microplastics in all waters tested suggest it should now be classed as an emergent contaminant, with routine monitoring required.

AB - The occurrence of microplastics in marine habitats is well documented and of growing concern. The presence of these small (<5 mm) pieces of plastic is less well recorded in inland water systems. In this paper, we determine a cost-efficient and straightforward method for the collection and identification of microplastics in UK inland waters. We found pieces of microplastic from all sample sites ranging from over 1000 L-1 in the River Tame, to 2.4 L-1 in Loch Lomond. The presence of microplastics in all waters tested suggest it should now be classed as an emergent contaminant, with routine monitoring required.

KW - Microplastics

KW - emergent contaminants

KW - fluorescence microscopy

KW - inland waters

KW - plastic pollution

U2 - https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2019.1943

DO - https://doi.org/10.4081/jlimnol.2019.1943

M3 - Article

VL - 79

SP - 92

EP - 95

JO - Journal of Limnology

JF - Journal of Limnology

SN - 1723-8633

IS - 1

ER -