Microplastics = Macro-problem!

Presentation Description : This presentation will focus on lessons learned from a 6-month specialized internship focused on the prevalence of microplastics in urban stormwater runoff and the environment. This internship was paid for by the City of Springfield, and research was conducted under the guidance of City of Springfield and Drury University staff.

Full Presentation Abstract: Like all Cities across the country, the City of Springfield Missouri generates waste, and improper handling of this material results in a portion of this waste making its way into local waterways. Recent trash assessments of local streams identified 60% of all trash surveyed to be plastic. Even more concerning, plastic continues to breakdown into smaller and smaller pieces, called microplastics. These tiny, man-made particles persist in the environment indefinitely, moving through all phases of the water cycle. Seeing the issue at hand, the City hired an Environmental Intern to conduct research on the prevalence of trash and plastic in urban stormwater. The intern, a pre-med student at Drury University, conducted stormwater sampling and laboratory studies to provide a better picture of the composition and quantity of plastic in the urban environment. Stormwater samples were analyzed using laboratory equipment and quantified using AI software. An important element of this research project was evaluating the efficacy of SCMs at microplastic removal. When possible, stormwater samples were taken upstream and downstream of constructed Stormwater Control Measures (SCMs). In addition, a laboratory study using 5-gallon buckets filled with bioretention soil mix evaluated removal from samples with known concentrations of microplastics.
At this presentation, we will share photos of actual microplastic fibers and granules captured under the microscope, as well as the results of the stormwater sampling study and bioretention laboratory study. Join us as we take a tour of the tiny and slightly terrifying world of microplastics!