Factors driving the spatial distribution of microplastics in nearshore and offshore sediment of Lake Huron, North America

• Published in: Marine pollution bulletin 2022-06, Vol.179, p.113709-113709, Article 113709
• Main Authors: Belontz, Sara L., Corcoran, Patricia L., de Haan-Ward, Johanna, Helm, Paul A., Marvin, Chris
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Bottom sediments; Deposition; Distribution; Dry weight; Freshwater; FTIR; Lake basins; Lake sediments; Lakes; Laurentian Great Lakes; Microplastics; Nearshore sedimentation; Offshore; Plastic pollution; Pollution; Regression analysis; Sediment; Sediment samplers; Sediment samples; Sediments; Spatial distribution; Surface currents
• ISSN: 0025-326X; 1879-3363
• DOI: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2022.113709

Offshore and nearshore sediment samples from Lake Huron, North America, were analysed for microplastics. Normalized abundances ranged from 59 to 335,714 particles per kg of dry weight sediment (p kg−1 dw). Of the four main basins of Lake Huron, the North Channel contained the greatest microplastic abundances, averaging 47,398 p kg−1 dw, followed by Georgian Bay (21,390 p kg−1 dw), the main basin (15,910 p kg−1 dw) and Saginaw Bay (1592 p kg−1 dw). Results indicate that greater lake depths (p = 0.004), associated with finer grained sediment (p = 0.048), are significant zones of deposition. Regression analysis reveals that source-driven factors generally do not account for microplastic abundances and distribution. Instead, process-driven hydrodynamic forces such as waves and surface currents could be driving distribution and deposition into the offshore environment. The findings suggest that these often overlooked processes should be considered when investigating microplastics quantity in bottom sediment of large lakes. •Greater depths of the lake, associated with finer grained sediment, represent significant zones of deposition in Lake Huron.•Hydrodynamic forces could be driving microplastic dispersion and deposition into the offshore environment.•Microplastic distribution is primarily process-driven as opposed to source-driven.