Researchers from Florida Atlantic University have demonstrated that freshwater wetlands trap and move microplastics, highlighting a major pollution challenge for coastal watersheds.
The findings highlight the importance of managing wetlands and the sources of microplastic pollution.
Microplastics Found in Protected Florida Ecosystems
The research was published in the journal Evolving Earth, and the study focused on the Spruce Bluff Preserve, a 97-acre protected wetland along the St. Lucie River in Port St. Lucie, Florida.
The research team analyzed sediment samples from diverse habitats and found microplastics at 95 percent of the sites surveyed. Roughly 88 percent of the detected particles measured under 2.5 millimeters/.098 inches, with synthetic fibers accounting for nearly half of the total…