The Potomac River, with scenic trails, the iconic Jefferson Memorial, and historic sites near Washington, D.C., draws outdoor enthusiasts. Yet, it’s laden with microplastics, peaking downstream of urban areas, contributing 11% to Chesapeake Bay’s pollution from stormwater and wastewater, threatening aquatic habitats.

​

[1] https://www.chesapeake.org/stac/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/FINAL_STAC-Report_Microplastics-1.pdf  
[2] https://mp-1.itrcweb.org/appendix-a/

 

Photo: Getty, Unsplash