DETECTING MICROPLASTICS IN A GREAT LAKES WATERSHED WITH UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS TRILLIONS OF TINY BITS OF PLASTIC – KNOWN AS MICROPLASTICS – CONTAMINATE OUR ENVIRONMENT. AMONG THESE ARE MICROFIBRES – VERY SMALL THREAD- SHAPED PLASTICS – ROUTINELY RELEASED FROM EVERYDAY WASHING OF SYNTHETIC FABRICS. THE REALITY IS THAT MANY OF THESE PLASTIC PARTICLES CONTINUE TO END UP IN RIVERS AND OCEANS, AND POSE A DANGER TO AQUATIC DR ORGANISMS. WITH THE HELP OF UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDENTS, IN INDIANA, USA, IS ASSESSING THE JULIE PELLER, FROM VALPARAISO UNIVERSITY MICROFIBRE POLLUTION IN SURFACE WATERS, WITH A FOCUS ON THE GREAT LAKES We are surrounded by plastic: plastic bags, TALK LIKE A CHEMIST water bottles, takeaway containers, chocolate wrappers, the list is endless. Unfortunately, MICROPLASTICS – very small pieces of the amount of oxygen or oxidation state of many people ignore the massive waste plastic that pollute the environment. These another substance problems associated with plastic, especially include all types of plastic that are smaller single-use plastic, and much of our plastic than 5 mm FENTON’S REAGENT – a solution used waste breaks down into microplastics. Now, to break down many organic compounds via microplastic pollutants seem to be present MICROFIBRES – fibres made of either chemical oxidation everywhere, even in remote areas of our planet natural or synthetic materials that are less like the Arctic and Antarctic. than 5 mm in length. Synthetic microfibres HYDROGEN PEROXIDE – a chemical Knowing they pose a serious threat to many are a category of microplastics compound with the formula H2O2 aquatic species, Dr Julie Peller, from Valparaiso BIODEGRADABLE – refers to the ORGANIC MATTER – refers to University in Indiana in the US, has been breakdown of matter, typically done by carbon-based living or dead animal and assessing the levels of microplastics, in particular microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, plant material. This includes living plants microfibres, in a Lake Michigan watershed and present in the soil or water and animals, remains at various stages of other Great Lakes ecosystems. Undergraduate decomposition, as well as microorganisms research students also contribute to this WASTEWATER TREATMENT PLANT and their excretions project, not only to increase awareness about – a facility that uses various processes, the importance of scientific research but also including physical, chemical and biological, POLLUTANT – any substance, including to contribute to the pool of knowledge as the to treat wastewater and remove pollutants certain chemicals and waste products, that magnitude of the problem grows daily. As Julie is detrimental to the environment. It can be warns, “The negative effects will be exasperated CHEMICAL OXIDATION – a type of anything that causes pollution, from toxic if we do not address the problem.” chemical reaction involving oxygen or an gases in the air to microplastics in the water oxygen-containing substance that increases WHY IS PLASTIC SUCH A BIG ISSUE? Plastic is not biodegradable. Unfortunately, instead of being recycled, most of it ends up in a landfill or in the environment, where DR JULIE PELLER Professor of Chemistry, Department of Chemistry, Valparaiso University, Indiana, USA FIELD OF RESEARCH Environmental Chemistry sunlight and other weathering processes break plastics and some inorganics behind. This is it down into tiny particles called microplastics. done by exposing the samples to the Fenton Scientists know that these particles can be reagent, a solution of hydrogen peroxide RESEARCH PROJECT extremely dangerous, with studies showing how (H2O2) and iron (II) chloride. The mixture they stunt growth, disrupt reproduction and is heated until it stops foaming, which is an Tracking the distribution of microfibre alter feeding habits of fish and other aquatic indication that most of the reactive organic pollution in a southern Lake Michigan species. matter is chemically broken down. After this watershed through the analysis of water, mixture is filtered, students count microfibres sediment and air. Microplastics are also shed from clothes made present in each sample using a microscope. from synthetic fabrics, such as polyester, when FUNDER they are washed. Standard washing machines From the research project, the amount of were never manufactured to remove all these microfibres found in the samples collected US National Science Foundation microfibres and they end up in our wastewater. closer to the wastewater treatment plant, Most of these microfibres can be removed and the samples collected further away (and This work was supported by the US National in wastewater treatment plants, but a small presumably not affected by household sewage) Science Foundation (EAGER: PAPER 1744004). percentage remains in the water and flows to were similar. For Julie, this indicates that the Any opinions, findings and conclusions or natural surface waters, including the oceans. water from the wastewater treatment plant recommendations expressed in this material are those is not the only source for the high amount of of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the Previous studies looking at the microplastic microfibres in this area of the Lake Michigan views of the National Science Foundation. content in Lake Michigan (part of the Great watershed. “The data showed that a significant Lakes in the USA) motivated Julie to test for amount of synthetic microfibres are discharged the presence of microplastics and microfibres daily to Lake Michigan,” says Julie. “We In addition to the valuable data collected from in surface waters flowing into Lake Michigan. analysed just one main tributary and expect microplastics research, Julie’s project also helps “The water in local streams and creeks flows that it is somewhat representative of others”. undergraduate students become more aware of into Lake Michigan, and we were interested how scientific research is used to solve every- in determining the extent of microplastics The big question now is how to reduce day problems. As a bonus, this work made most contamination in both the water and sediment,” these pollutants and minimise their adverse participants more conscious about the dangers says Julie. effects. Scientists are still learning about the of plastic pollution and consider reducing the consequences of these contaminants in our amount of plastic they use in their life. This is AN EXPERIMENT AIMED AT environment, but this research needs to be ideal preparation to enable these students to UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS done with a great deal of urgency. Our world is lead citizen science projects in the future. The twist in the research was that it was drowning in plastic with more and more being adjusted to be part of first-year undergraduate added every day. Julie and her team at Valparaiso University students’ chemistry curriculum. Julie and her are keen to offer public outreach programmes colleagues wanted to engage these students GOOD NEWS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH for schools and young people, which may be a in active scientific research by exploring the Julie believes that recent studies of Lake good way to find out more about becoming a current worldwide problem of microplastics Michigan green algae with microfibres may chemist. Choosing a career in chemistry can be contamination. Over the course of a three- offer insight into ways to battle against this extremely rewarding. Many chemists work in week experiment, students collect soil samples type of plastic. Certain aquatic plants are a lab, but there is so much more they can do. from two locations, one near a local wastewater able to trap and cling to microplastics. If Chemists can develop new textiles for the latest treatment plant. Using different lab techniques, researchers learn more about these natural fashion trends or even play a key role in criminal they remove particles larger than 5 microns. mechanisms, they may be able to develop ways investigations. It is fascinating to think where The next step involves chemical oxidation to to reduce the discharge of microplastics into chemistry could take you! reduce the natural organic matter, leaving the aquatic environments. ABOUT CHEMISTRY WHAT IS CHEMISTRY? WHY IS WATER QUALITY SO Chemistry is everywhere. Everything you eat, IMPORTANT? smell and touch involves chemicals. It is the Monitoring and investigating aspects of water makeup of materials, including all the complex quality and environmental health are incredibly chemical reactions that happen in your body. In important. After all, living organisms rely everyday life, you can find chemistry when you on healthy fresh water for survival. It is very cook, make a cup of tea or even when you pick rewarding to contribute knowledge on water new trainers to go running. quality and environmental issues that impact people around the globe. In academic terms, chemistry is the science that deals with the properties and structure WHY INVOLVE STUDENTS IN of different substances, as well as the THIS PROJECT? transformations they can have. Integrating research projects in science courses challenges students to go beyond textbooks HOW CAN CHEMISTRY HELP and think about the key questions that we FIGHT POLLUTION? need to answer. Students get a better idea of Chemistry can be very useful in the fight how research is conducted, learn beyond the against pollution. It can help scientists surface level and often find greater interest in understand how pollutants interact with animals topics. Many of these topics