Microplastics are a global hazard to our aquatic ecosystems. Because plastic does not biodegrade in the environment, but rather, breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces, it is a pollutant that remains in the marine environment for centuries and travels up the food chain. Plastic particles smaller than 5 millimeters are known as microplastics and they have been found in water samples taken from nearly everywhere on earth- including glaciers in the arctic circle and over 93% of bottle water.
Puget Soundkeeper has conducts an annual analysis of water samples around the Puget Sound watershed to look for the presence of microplastics. We document the extent of microplastic pollution in Puget Sound to educate community members of this issue and help inform future policy proposals.
We need volunteers who are willing to collect water samples around the Green-Duwamish watershed on November 21st. We will supply the equipment, protocols and locations to volunteers. We are asking volunteers to meet us at our office (130 Nickerson Street) to pickup all equipment the week of November 16th and conduct the grab sampling on Saturday, November 21st. Then schedule a supply return before Friday, December 4th.
Email Kristin at Kristin@pugetsoundkeeper.org for more information and to sign up.
Check out the sites below and watch our video on microplastic grab sampling here!