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160-11 The Prevalence of Microplastics in First-order Streams Across a Range of Watershed Land Uses

Session: Advances in Fluvial Processes and Sediment Transport, Part I

Presenting Author:

Josh Galster

Authors:

Galster, Josh C.¹, Hornstra, Benjamin², Crawford, Jason³

(1) Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair St. University, Montclair, NJ, USA, (2) Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA, (3) Earth and Environmental Studies, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA,

Abstract:

Microplastics are an emerging environmental concern due to their prevalence and their durability. Microplastics have been found across a range of terrestrial and aquatic habitats, as well as in the organic tissue of many species. The goal of this study was to investigate small, first-order streams across a range of land uses in New York and New Jersey for the presence of microplastics. It was hypothesized that watersheds with urban land uses would have significantly more microplastics, and that forested watersheds would have little to no microplastics. Rivers were sampled at baseflow, the water filtered, and then the samples analyzed under microscopes to visually identify microplastics. Samples averaged between approximately 5 to 15 microplastics per liter, and microplastics were identified at all sites regardless of land use. The prevalence of microplastics in a stream in a state forest with a very low level of human influence was especially surprising, and suggests the importance of atmospheric deposition for microplastic delivery.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Program. Vol. 57, No. 6, 2025

doi: 10.1130/abs/2025AM-8986

The Prevalence of Microplastics in First-order Streams Across a Range of Watershed Land Uses

Description

Session Format: Oral

Presentation Date: 10/21/2025

Presentation Start Time: 11:05 AM

Presentation Room: HBGCC, 212AB

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