Scientific Paper: Microplastics in the Ottawa River

Our work on microplastics has culminated in a paper, co-authored by our Senior Scientist, Meaghan Murphy.

Our work on microplastics has culminated in a paper, co-authored by our Senior Scientist, Meaghan Murphy. You can read about all the details below!

 

Abstract

 

Microplastic pollution is prevalent in the Ottawa River, with all open water samples (n = 62) and sediment samples (n = 10) containing microplastics. The median microplastic concentration of nearshore 100 L water samples was 0.1 fragments per L (ranged between 0.05 and 0.24 fragments per L). The larger volume Manta trawls samples taken in the middle of the Ottawa River had an overall mean concentration of plastics of 1.35 fragments per m3. Plastic concentrations were significantly higher downstream of the wastewater treatment plant (1.99 fragments per m3) compared with upstream of the effluent output (0.71 fragments per m3), suggesting that the effluent plume is a pathway for plastic pollution to the Ottawa River. The mean concentration of microplastic fragments recovered in the sediment samples was 0.22 fragments per g dry weight. The abundance of microplastics in the sediment was not significantly related to the mean particle size or the organic content of the sediment. The most common form of plastic particles found was microfibers. These made up between 70% and 100% of all plastic particles observed, although plastic microbeads and secondary plastic fragments were also recovered.

 

Link to Scientific Paper

3 responses to “Scientific Paper: Microplastics in the Ottawa River”

  1. […] full report can be found online at the Ottawa Riverkeeper website. Ottawa Riverkeeper’s senior scientist, Meaghan Murphy, co-authored the […]

  2. Leetal says:

    Dear Ms Murphy,

    We are a group of students who are creating a documentary about micro plastic pollution in Ottawa. We would like to interview you.
    Please contact us.

    • Emma Konrad says:

      Hi Leetal,
      Ms. Murphy is maternity leave right now, so she won’t be able to answer your questions. If you’d like to talk to someone else at Ottawa Riverkeeper, please send an email to ekonrad@ottawariverkeeper.ca.

      Thanks!

      Emma Konrad
      Communications Coordinator, Ottawa Riverkeeper