20-3 Microplastic Abundance in a Cave System Near Knoxville, Tennessee

Session: Undergraduate Research

Presenting Author:

Authors:

Abstract:

Microplastic (MP) contamination is a growing concern in nearly all known environments. However, the abundance of MPs in karst environments has received very little attention. In theory, MP contamination of karst systems would be expected to be less prevalent than most surface contexts, particularly in passageways that have not been entered by humans and receive little water or airflow that is directly linked to the surface. Here, we present a study examining the MP contamination of various parts of a cave near Knoxville, Tennessee, including areas that are heavily trafficked, and areas that were previously unexplored. Our preliminary data show very low levels of aerosol and soil contamination in the unexplored sections of the cave, which is consistent with our hypothesized results. In the more thoroughly traveled sections of the cave, we detected much higher levels of pollution. This is consistent with previous studies conducted in Western Europe, and builds on this data by including data from parts of the cave without direct human contact. Our results suggest that many of these unexplored cave environments are completely or nearly completely uncontaminated prior to human exploration, and raises questions about how to best preserve these environments for future study.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 1, 2026

doi: 10.1130/abs/2026SE-12805

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