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Bay Seabeds Hide Over 1,000 Tons of Plastic
9 Feb
Summary
- Narragansett Bay's seabed holds over 1,000 tons of accumulating microplastics.
- Plastic concentrations increased exponentially from the 1940s to the present.
- Salt marshes trap microplastics with concentrations ten times higher than seabeds.
Microplastic contamination in Narragansett Bay has reached alarming levels, with a recent study quantifying over 1,000 tons of plastic accumulating in its seabeds and marshes. This research utilized sediment cores, acting as time capsules, to track microplastic accumulation from the 1940s to present day.
The study found an exponential increase in microplastics, particularly after the 1940s, a period marked by a surge in global plastic production. Urban areas near Providence and Warwick show the highest concentrations, influenced by hardened shorelines and stormwater runoff carrying pollutants.
Interestingly, salt marshes within the bay are significant microplastic traps, exhibiting concentrations ten times higher than adjacent seabed sediments. While high concentrations exist in areas unsuitable for shellfish harvesting, the overall pollution poses environmental concerns.
Proposed solutions include built-in microplastic filters for washing machines and nature-based approaches like floating wetlands to capture runoff. Individual actions, though seemingly small, are encouraged to collectively reduce this pervasive pollution.
