Microplastic Distribution in the Gulf of Mexico

Abstract:

Microplastics are defined as a plastic less than 5 mm in diameter. The three kinds of microplastics are microbeads, microfibers, and secondary microplastics. Microbeads were once used in many skin care products as an abrasive, microfibers are fibers that shed off clothing, and secondary microplastics are plastics that break down from larger plastics. The presence of microplastics are becoming a much greater concern because they can be found in everything including food, rain, drinking water, and in various bodies of water. A study done on microplastics in the deep sea, by Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute, found that there are high concentrations of microplastics in the Monterey Bay. Monterey Bay is a deep submarine canyon ecosystem on the California coast. (1) This helped inspire me to do research of my own at my local beach, Johnson’s Beach, which is part of the Gulf Islands National Seashore in Perdido Key, Florida. I decided to test the distribution between surface water and water along the bottom of the seafloor. I think there will be more microplastics in the surface water because microplastics are buoyant, and surface tension will help keep them afloat. To test this hypothesis, I’ll be collecting samples of water from the surface water, and water just above the sea floor using 16 ounce mason jars. I will be using a glass jar so that I don’t contaminate my samples with plastic.
Conclusion: TBA

Reference

Choy, C. A., Robison, B. H., Gagne, T. O., Erwin, B., Firl, E., Halden, R. U., Houtan, K. S. (2019, June 06). The vertical distribution and biological transport of marine microplastics across the epipelagic and mesopelagic water column. Retrieved from https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-019-44117-2