Microplastic pollution identified in Lackawanna River, 52 other Pennsylvania waterways
Mar. 4—A new study identified tiny plastic pollutants in all of 53 popular Pennsylvania waterways sampled, including the Susquehanna and Lackawanna rivers.
The findings, released Wednesday in a study conducted by the PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center titled "Microplastics in Pennsylvania: A Survey of Waterways," are serious but not surprising, Lackawanna River Conservation Association Executive Director Bernie McGurl said.
"There's a preponderance of plastic everywhere," said McGurl, whose organization has worked to restore and protect the Lackawanna River for more than three decades. "It's ubiquitous in our environment and getting more so day by day. ... If the human species can be said to have an addiction, it is hydrocarbons and plastic."
As the name suggests, microplastics are very small plastic fragments — less than five millimeters in length. There are many sources of microplastics and the pollution is widespread. The materials have been found in global and domestic samples of tap water, sea salt and beer; in isolated marine environments in the Arctic and Antarctic; and even in human fetuses, according to the study.
Their presence in 100% of the 53 waterways sampled further illustrates the pervasiveness of the pernicious pollutants.
"The results of this study should set off alarms for all Pennsylvanians who love our state's rivers and streams," PennEnvironment Research & Policy Center Conservation Associate Faran Savitz said in a press release. "The staggering amount of microplastics we found likely means that no river, lake, or stream is safe from this increasingly common contaminant."
Researchers conducting the study categorized the microplastics they identified into four types: fibers, primarily from clothing and textiles; fragments, primarily from harder plastics, including polystyrene and clear plastic containers; film, primarily from plastic bags and flexible plastic packaging; and beads, primarily from facial scrubs and other cosmetic products.
The Lackawanna River samples contained microplastic fibers, fragments and film, as did samples taken from the Susquehanna River North Branch in Luzerne County and the vast majority of the other waterways tested. Microplastic beads were identified at just one site, the Delaware River Canal in Bucks County.
Fish and birds often mistake microplastic materials for food, according to the study, which notes "ingesting even tiny particles of plastic can alter the behavior and metabolism of fish in our lakes and rivers."
McGurl called microplastics a "serious contaminate" that can get lodged in animals' intestinal systems. The breakdown of consumed microplastics by stomach acids can also create "less than desirable byproducts," he said.
Citing research from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the study notes microplastic particles can attract heavy metals and chemical contaminants, including pesticides, that can pose health risks when consumed by animals and humans.
The study includes several policy recommendations to mitigate the threats posed by plastic and microplastic pollution, including phasing out single use plastics and opposing the creation of new plastic production infrastructure, among others.
Pennsylvania's River of the Year in 2020, the Lackawanna River has enjoyed a remarkable rebound in recent decades thanks to the efforts of the LRCA and other environmental stewards. Once badly marred by the effects of the region's coal mining past, antiquated wastewater systems and other pollutants, the river is now a prized fishery and popular recreation destination.
Microplastic pollution represents another challenge locally, statewide and around the world.
"I think this study shows that there's a lot more that needs to be done in maintaining our water systems and maintaining the integrity of our total human environment," McGurl said.
Contact the writer: jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141; @jhorvathTT on Twitter.