title: Sources and sinks of microplastics in Canadian Lake Ontario nearshore, tributary and beach sediments.
abstract: Microplastics contamination of Lake Ontario sediments is investigated with the aim of identifying distribution patterns and hotspots in nearshore, tributary and beach depositional environments. Microplastics are concentrated in nearshore sediments in the vicinity of urban and industrial regions. In Humber Bay and Toronto Harbour microplastic concentrations were consistently >500 particles per kg dry sediment. Maximum concentrations of ~28,000 particles per kg dry sediment were determined in Etobicoke Creek. The microplastic particles were primarily fibres and fragments <2mm in size. Both low- and high-density plastics were identified using Raman spectroscopy. We provide a baseline for future monitoring and discuss potential sources of microplastics in terms of how and where to implement preventative measures to reduce the contaminant influx. Although the impacts of microplastics contamination on ecosystem health and functioning is uncertain, understanding, monitoring and preventing further microplastics contamination in Lake Ontario and the other Great Lakes is crucial.
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada. Electronic address: 4anikab@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Anika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ballent
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Patricia L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Corcoran
authors.affiliation: Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Rd., Suitland, MD, 20746, USA.
authors.forename: Odile
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Madden
authors.affiliation: Environmental Monitoring and Reporting Branch, Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, 125 Resources Rd., Toronto, ON, M9P 3V6, Canada.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Helm
authors.affiliation: Department of Earth Sciences, University of Western Ontario, 1151 Richmond St. N., London, ON, N6A 5B7, Canada.
authors.forename: Fred J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Longstaffe
mesh_terms: D001493:Bathing Beaches; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D060106:Lakes / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D009864:Ontario; D010969:Plastics / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Lake Ontario; Microplastics; Nearshore; Raman spectroscopy; Sediments; Watershed