Hiking Gear Blamed for Microplastic Pollution in Remote Lakes

In 2025, researchers have discovered a concerning increase in microplastic pollution in New York's highest lake, Lake Tear of the Clouds. Data scientist Tim Keyes, who conducted the research with his company Evergreen Business Analytics and the non-profit Adirondack Hamlets to Huts, found that microplastic levels in the lake had risen from 9.45 particles per milliliter in 2023 to 16.54 particles per milliliter in 2025.

However, when Keyes also sampled the nearby Moss Pond, a remote and trailless body of water, the microplastic concentrations were much lower, at just 0.73 particles per milliliter. This stark difference led Keyes and his co-author Joe Dadey to conclude that the primary source of the contamination was not airborne, as previously suspected, but rather the hiking gear worn by the tens of thousands of people who visit Lake Tear of the Clouds each year.

Keyes explained, "It's a pretty clear indication given the stark difference in microplastic levels between the sister body of water that's a bushwack away compared to Lake Tear, which is on this thoroughfare for hikers that sees tens of thousands of people annually."

The findings underscore the pervasive nature of microplastics, which have been found in soil, water, air, wildlife, and even human bodies. Exposure to these tiny plastic particles has been linked to a range of adverse health effects, from vascular damage to cognitive decline and cancers. As researchers continue to uncover the extent of microplastic pollution, the need to address its sources, including everyday items and hiking gear, becomes increasingly urgent.