Lake Erie, US

Lake Erie, a Great Lakes gem with sandy beaches and historic lighthouses, draws visitors for fishing and boating. Lake Erie borders four populated US states (Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York) and one Canadian province, Ontario.  100% of tested water samples reveal microplastics, with concentrations rivaling the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, driven by urban runoff and degraded plastics [1][2][3]. Smaller than 5mm, these particles harm aquatic species and may pose human health risks, highlighting the need for ongoing monitoring [4][5].

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Citations

[1] https://www.alleghenyfront.org/researchers-find-microplastics-in-every-pa-waterway-tested/

[2] https://www.eriereader.com/article/report-microplastics-present-in-lake-erie-elk-creek-mill-creek-and-edinboro-lake

[3] https://www.alleghenyfront.org/great-lakes-plastic-pollution-monitoring/

[4] https://abcnews.go.com/US/microplastics-lake-erie-highlight-growing-concern-potential-health/story?id=98724887

[5] https://seagrant.psu.edu/news/pa-lake-erie-environmental-forum-microplastics/

 

Photo by Ed Cummings on Unsplash