MICROPLASTIC POLLUTION IN URBAN

WATERSHEDS

1Rutgers Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability (CUES) ; 2Rutgers Department of

Biochemistry and Microbiology; 3Rutgers Environmental & Occupational Health Science

Institute (EOHSI); 4NY/NJ Baykeeper; 5Rutger Graduate Program in Biochemistry &

Microbiology

9th Annual Sustainable Raritan River ConferenceRutgers New Brunswick

June 9, 2017

B. Ravit1, K. Cooper2, B. Buckley3, S. Meola4, G. Moreno5, D. Jones1, A.

Hsieh1

Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability

Sample Collection & Analysis

Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability

Some Caveats – A snapshot in Time

• One dry weather sampling event per location

• One wet weather sampling event in 5 locations

• Difficulty separating samples manually

• Possible breakdown of original plastic materials into new

shapes/configurations

Center for Urban Environmental Sustainability

0.E+00

1.E+06

2.E+06

3.E+06

4.E+06

5.E+06

6.E+06

7.E+06

8.E+06

Raritan River Microplastic (Dry)

Upstream Downstream

Location Collection Microplastic Type Total

Fragmen

t Pellet Line Film Foam

Bridgewater Dry 6 0 1 0 0 7

Piscataway Dry 0 8 9 23 0 40

New Brunswick Dry 7 1 6 0 0 14

Edison Dry 13 1 39 11 5 69

Sayreville Dry 8 0 2 5 34 49

Total Recovered 34 10 57 39 39 179

% Total Recovered 19% 6% 32% 22% 22%

Location Microplastic Sizes Total

0.3-.99mm 1-4.75mm

>

4.75mm

Bridgewater Raritan 2 4 1 7

Piscataway - Raritan 16 15 9 40

New Brunswick -

Raritan 5 9 0 14

Edison - Raritan 17 22 30 69

Sayreville - Raritan 7 30 12 49

Total Recovered 47 80 52 179

% Total Recovered 26.26% 44.69% 29.05%