Characterization of Microplastics in Precipitation

The modern lifestyle is consumed by plastic. From disposable bottles to packaging to modern appliances, plastic is nearly impossible to avoid. A rapidly growing area of research is focused on microplastics, which are small plastic particles either directly produced to be small or are derived from the weathering of larger plastic pieces. Extensive research has been conducted on the characterization of marine microplastics, but relatively less is known about freshwater systems and especially transport throughout the water cycle. Due to the ubiquitous nature of plastic, there are likely microplastics in precipitation and they can be found in remote environments. This research project aims to characterize microplastics presence in Montana precipitation. To complete this task, precipitation samples (i.e. rain, snow, hail) were taken, filtered, and observed using epifluorescence microscopy to count and categorize plastic particles. Raman spectroscopy was employed to chemically identify unknown polymers. Thus far, preliminary results have shown plastic particles in precipitation. The findings of this research project will further inform the prevalence of microplastics and their role in environmental contamination. As society moves further towards sustainability and environmental responsibility, it is imperative that we actively work to understand and resolve the implications of our plastics use.