Submission Date

7-24-2024

Document Type

Paper- Restricted to Campus Access

Department

Biology

Faculty Mentor

Colleen Bove

Comments

Presented during the 26th Annual Summer Fellows Symposium, July 19, 2024 at Ursinus College.

Project Description

Plastic is one of the world's most useful and versatile materials, so no wonder 400 million tonnes are produced yearly. When exposed to weathering and heat, plastic degrades and produces microplastics. These microplastics have managed to leech into our oceans, local waterways, bodies, and even our air. The negative implications of microplastic contamination in our environment are slowly being uncovered with concerns of toxin buildup. Additionally, the amount of microplastics we are exposed to through local waterways is rarely quantified. Based on preliminary sample collections, we concluded that the Schuylkill River Watershed is contaminated with multiple fibers per cubic meter of the river. Additionally, the plastics contributing to this debris are primarily the result of consumerism and infrastructure, such as tributyl phosphate, poly(vinyl formal), polyethylene, and 1,2-polybutadiene.

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