Source-specific categorization of microplastics in nearshore surface waters of the Great Lakes
Open accessAbstract
Actions aimed at reducing microplastic pollution need source-specific information to tailor local and global efforts. We applied a source-specific categorization scheme to quantify and characterize microplastics using robust QA/QC methods in 98 nearshore surface waters collected using manta trawls from three Laurentian Great Lakes. The greatest abundances (max. 2.0 x 107 particles/km2) were found adjacent to the Greater Toronto Area, where fragments consistent with commercial and industrial activities contributed up to 58 % ± 21 % of particles on average (0.335 – 4.75 mm size range; near wastewater discharges in Humber Bay, Lake Ontario). Irregularly-shaped polyethylene microbeads were consistently more abundant than spherical microbeads as is typical in personal care products and contributed significantly (up to 44 % ± 21 % on average; Hamilton Harbour, Lake Ontario) in areas dominated by wastewater inputs. Using source-specific microplastic morphology categories may facilitate 1) the development of specific mitigation initiatives for identified and significant sources, and 2) assessing the effectiveness of implemented reduction measures at local levels in marine coastal environments, estuaries, and freshwaters globally.
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Studies have demonstrated relatively high levels of microplastics in the Toronto region of the Laurentian Great Lakes, likely as a result of discharges from tributaries that flow through areas of high urbanization and industrial activity, including several manufacturers of plastic items.
“Our study focuses on this region specifically because studies have demonstrated relatively high levels of microplastics in the Toronto region of the Laurentian Great Lakes,35 likely as a result of discharges from tributaries that flow through areas of high urbanization and industrial activity, including several manufacturers of plastic items36–38”
From Microplastics and Anthropogenic Particles in Recreationally Caught Freshwater Fish from an Urbanized Region of the North American Great Lakes (2024) · cites this paper as [36]
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Milne, M. H., Helm, P. A., Munno, K., Bhavsar, S. P., & Rochman, C. M. (2024) · Environmental Health Perspectives · doi:10.1289/ehp13540 · Cited by 15 · see citing works
“…region of the Laurentian Great Lakes, 35 likely as a result of discharges from tributaries that fl ow through areas of high urbanization and industrial activity, including several manufacturers of plastic items 36 – 38 There is also a wastewater treatment plant upstream that empties into Humber Bay.”
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- Authors
- Yu, J. T., Helm, P. A., & Diamond, M. L.
- Affiliations
- University of Toronto (CA)
- Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Helm, Paul A.
- Venue
- Journal of Great Lakes Research
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2024-02
- Volume
- 50
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 102256
- ISSN
- 0380-1330 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W4388914253
- Cited by
- 28
- References
- 70
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 16 · 2024: 5
- FWCI
- 1.80
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- hybrid
- doi.org
- Licence
- Locations
- Journal of Great Lakes Research (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Oil Spill Detection and Mitigation
- Keywords
- microplastics, Great Lakes, polyethylene microbeads, wastewater discharge, microplastic morphology, microplastic pollution, Lake Ontario, Hamilton Harbour, personal care products
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