Colorado River (Page, AZ)

Fish and shellfish in the Colorado River, especially around the iconic Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona, are contaminated with microplastics, with alarming levels of up to 19 particles per fish and 2.7 to 105 particles per shellfish according to recent Arizona data. This stunning meander, located just 5 miles downstream from Lake Powell within the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, showcases the river’s breathtaking red rock cliffs and turquoise waters—yet even this natural wonder is not immune to pollution. Microplastics, shed from urban runoff, industrial waste, and consumer plastics across the Colorado River watershed, have infiltrated every sampled waterway, posing risks to aquatic life and potentially the food chain. At Ecotera Home, we’re committed to raising awareness and offering solutions
 

Citation:
Baldwin AK, Spanjer AR, Rosen MR, Thom T. Microplastics in Lake Mead National Recreation Area, USA: Occurrence and biological uptake. PLoS One. 2020 May 4;15(5):e0228896. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0228896. PMID: 32365121; PMCID: PMC7197774.

Photo: Tom Gainor, Unsplash