Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek
Microplastics are defined as any plastic with a diameter ≤5 mm. Problems associated with these plastics such as contamination of both marine and freshwater environments and ingestion by aquatic organisms are of increasing concern. Our study quantifies the number of microplastics in a prairie creek i...
| Main Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Canadian Science Publishing
2017-05-01
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| Series: | FACETS |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2017-0008 |
| _version_ | 1828156682468851712 |
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| author | Samantha H. Campbell Patrick R. Williamson Britt D. Hall |
| author_facet | Samantha H. Campbell Patrick R. Williamson Britt D. Hall |
| author_sort | Samantha H. Campbell |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Microplastics are defined as any plastic with a diameter ≤5 mm. Problems associated with these plastics such as contamination of both marine and freshwater environments and ingestion by aquatic organisms are of increasing concern. Our study quantifies the number of microplastics in a prairie creek immediately downstream of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Water samples and five species of fish were collected from sample sites upstream and downstream of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the summers of 2015 and 2016. Samples were digested in either a Fe(II)/H2O2 or NaClO solution and observed under a microscope where plastics present were enumerated by colour and type. At least one microplastic was detected in 73.5% of fish and 95.6% of water samples, showing that the creek does, in fact, contain microplastics. Concentrations were higher in water from upstream sites, likely due to dilution of creek water by the release of treated effluent. The results of this study provide baseline conditions for the presence of plastics in the creek prior to a major upgrade of the WWTP scheduled for completion in 2016. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:15:14Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-604115ee9bab4300a99178910549da76 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2371-1671 2371-1671 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-11T23:15:14Z |
| publishDate | 2017-05-01 |
| publisher | Canadian Science Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | FACETS |
| spelling | doaj.art-604115ee9bab4300a99178910549da762022-12-22T03:57:38ZengCanadian Science PublishingFACETS2371-16712371-16712017-05-01239540910.1139/facets-2017-0008Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creekSamantha H. Campbell 0Patrick R. Williamson1Britt D. Hall2Department of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, CanadaDepartment of Biology, University of Regina, 3737 Wascana Parkway, Regina, SK S4S 0A2, CanadaMicroplastics are defined as any plastic with a diameter ≤5 mm. Problems associated with these plastics such as contamination of both marine and freshwater environments and ingestion by aquatic organisms are of increasing concern. Our study quantifies the number of microplastics in a prairie creek immediately downstream of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. Water samples and five species of fish were collected from sample sites upstream and downstream of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in the summers of 2015 and 2016. Samples were digested in either a Fe(II)/H2O2 or NaClO solution and observed under a microscope where plastics present were enumerated by colour and type. At least one microplastic was detected in 73.5% of fish and 95.6% of water samples, showing that the creek does, in fact, contain microplastics. Concentrations were higher in water from upstream sites, likely due to dilution of creek water by the release of treated effluent. The results of this study provide baseline conditions for the presence of plastics in the creek prior to a major upgrade of the WWTP scheduled for completion in 2016.http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2017-0008microplasticsmicrobeadsfishWascana Creekwater qualitycontaminationNorth American Great PlainsSaskatchewanwastewater |
| spellingShingle | Samantha H. Campbell Patrick R. Williamson Britt D. Hall Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek FACETS microplastics microbeads fish Wascana Creek water quality contamination North American Great Plains Saskatchewan wastewater |
| title | Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek |
| title_full | Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek |
| title_fullStr | Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek |
| title_full_unstemmed | Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek |
| title_short | Microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek |
| title_sort | microplastics in the gastrointestinal tracts of fish and the water from an urban prairie creek |
| topic | microplastics microbeads fish Wascana Creek water quality contamination North American Great Plains Saskatchewan wastewater |
| url | http://www.facetsjournal.com/doi/10.1139/facets-2017-0008 |
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