Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments
Abstract
Microplastics contamination of Lake Ontario sediments is investigated with the aim of identifying distribution patterns and hotspots in nearshore, tributary and beach depositional environments. Microplastics are concentrated in nearshore sediments in the vicinity of urban and industrial regions. In Humber Bay and Toronto Harbour microplastic concentrations were consistently >500 particles per kg dry sediment. Maximum concentrations of ~28,000 particles per kg dry sediment were determined in Etobicoke Creek. The microplastic particles were primarily fibres and fragments <2mm in size. Both low- and high-density plastics were identified using Raman spectroscopy. We provide a baseline for future monitoring and discuss potential sources of microplastics in terms of how and where to implement preventative measures to reduce the contaminant influx. Although the impacts of microplastics contamination on ecosystem health and functioning is uncertain, understanding, monitoring and preventing further microplastics contamination in Lake Ontario and the other Great Lakes is crucial.
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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 [37]
The high contamination in Humber Bay sediment and water, owing to the proximity of the site to Toronto, may explain the high anthropogenic particle burdens observed in the fish.
“These results may be attributed to the high contamination in the sediment and water in Humber Bay (where the fish were caught) owing to the proximity of the site to Toronto, a large urban center.37,57”
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 [37]
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Ballent, A., Corcoran, P. L., Madden, O., Helm, P. A., & Longstaffe, F. J.
- Affiliations
- Western University (CA)
- Smithsonian Institution (US)
- Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (CA)
- Corresponding author
- Ballent, Anika
- Venue
- Marine Pollution Bulletin
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2016-09
- Volume
- 110
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 383-395
- ISSN
- 0025-326X (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2471117681
- Cited by
- 700
- References
- 62
- Citations by year
- 2026: 34 · 2025: 74 · 2024: 83 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 117 · 2021: 100 · 2020: 101 · 2019: 38 · 2018: 42 · 2017: 23 · 2016: 6
- FWCI
- 19.78
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Marine Pollution Bulletin (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Scholarship@Western (Western University) (submittedVersion)
- Smithsonian Digital Repository (Smithsonian Institution) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- This work was funded under the Great Lakes Strategy / Canada-Ontario Agreement with Respect to the Great Lakes program
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Microplastics and Plastic Pollution
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Pharmaceutical and Antibiotic Environmental Impacts
- Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Waste Management and Recycling
- Keywords
- microplastics, Lake Ontario, lake sediments, nearshore sediments, beach sediments, microplastic hotspots, microplastic fibers, microplastic fragments, Toronto Harbour, urban and industrial pollution, Great Lakes
- MeSH terms
- Bathing Beaches, Environmental Monitoring, Ontario, Plastics, Water Pollutants, Chemical, Geologic Sediments, Lakes
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