Microplastics Pollution Status in a Tributary of the Hudson River: Fishkill Creek

Abstract

Microplastic pollution is a growing concern worldwide, with rivers and their tributaries playing a pivotal role in transporting and distributing these particles throughout ecosystems. This study provides a comprehensive analysis of microplastic pollution in Fishkill Creek, a tributary of the Hudson River, for two seasons (fall and spring) with the valuable assistance of K-12 students in sample collection from three distinct sites, Sarah Taylor Park, Doug Phillips Park, and Hopewell Recreation Beach in Fishkill, NY. The investigation encompassed the collection and analysis of water, bed load, and suspended sediment load samples to determine the abundance and distribution of microplastics in a creek system as well as to determine the relationship between microplastic concentration and the creek flow rate. The average microplastic concentration was found to be 6.86 ± 1.97 items/L, 238.40 ± 32.46 items/kg, and 3.89 ± 1.15 items/L for water, bed load, and suspended sediment load, respectively. From the relationship between microplastic concentration and the historic flow rate of Fishkill Creek, it was found that a higher flow rate significantly dilutes the microplastic concentration in the measured compartments in the creek system. Physical and chemical properties of the microplastic samples were characterized, including size, shape, color, and polymer type. Microplastics displayed diverse physical attributes, with irregular shapes and varying polymer types, suggesting multiple sources and degradation processes. These findings underscore the pressing need for mitigation strategies to address microplastic pollution in aquatic ecosystems.