Study samples 50 major state bodies of water, microplastics were found in 100% of samples

PITTSBURGH — A new study has found microplastics in every one of Pennsylvania’s rivers and waterways, including major rivers near Pittsburgh.

Researchers from PennEnvironment sampled water from more than 50 different rivers, lakes and streams. “We found microplastics in 100% of our samples,” the report’s authors wrote.

In our region, samples were taken from the Allegheny River, Chartiers Creek, Monongahela River, Nine Mile Run, Ohio River, Sewickley Creek, Turtle Creek, Connoquenessing Creek, and the Youghiogheny River. They reported finding fibers, fragments, film and microbeads in varying amounts in each body of water. The fibers were primarily from clothing and textiles. Fragments were from harder plastics or plastic feedstock. Film was from bags and flexible plastic packaging. The beads found were primarily from facial scrubs and other cosmetic products.

The 20-page study defined a microplastic as a piece of plastic less than 5mm in length, or smaller than a grain of rice, and said they’ve been found in tap water, sea salt and beer. Research showed wheat and lettuce crops can take up microplastics found in the soil through their roots. Microplastics have also been found in human fetuses, according to the study, and it’s estimated that humans consume roughly a credit card’s worth of plastic every week.

The report urged local, state and federal lawmakers to make policy changes to combat this problem.

CLICK HERE to read the study for yourself

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