Great Lakes Warning As Watchdog Calls on US To Act

Scientists with a watchdog responsible for monitoring the Great Lakes have called on the U.S. and Canadian governments to take action to monitor microplastics in the lakes. These tiny pieces of plastic pollution—which measure under 5 millimeters in size—are pervasive in the lakes, entering from sources including construction, cosmetics, fertilizers, litter, laundering of synthetic clothing and tire wear on vehicles. In their recently published report, the International Joint Commission's (IJC) Great Lakes Science Advisory Board has also called for microplastics to be designated a "Chemical of Mutual Concern." Karen Kidd, a professor of biology at McMaster University in Ontario, is a member of the advisory board and has been studying microplastics in southern Ontario since 2019. "We find microplastics everywhere we look—from the open waters of the Great Lakes, to rivers flowing into the lakes, to fish and aquatic insects that live in these habitats," she said in a statement.

Microplastic pollution, which can take decades to degrade, has become ubiquitous in the environment. Given their size, microplastics are easily consumed by aquatic species, affecting their survival, growth and ability to reproduce. In the context of the Great Lakes, microplastics have the ability to enter humans not only via consumption of water from the lakes, but also by passing up the food chain and onto our plates. Researchers have found microplastics in assorted types of human tissue—including within the brain—with scientists concerned about the potential health impacts. Kidd is among many scientists calling for new policies to help reduce plastic production and consumption. The biologist recommends that individuals take steps to fight microplastic pollution, including avoiding the use of single-use plastic products, and installing filters on washing machines and dryers to help stop plastic fibers being released with wastewater. "It is much more expensive to clean up the Great Lakes than it is to prevent pollution in the first place," Kidd noted.

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In its report, the IJC's Great Lakes Science Advisory Board warns that, despite microplastics being present in all five of the Great Lakes, there is no coordinated effort across the encompassing basin to monitor and report on the status of plastic pollution. "Plastic is a part of modern life and pervasive throughout the Great Lakes ecosystem," said ecology Professor Rebecca Rooney, the Canadian co-chair of the board's Research Coordination Committee. Despite this, she continued, "the monitoring and reporting on microplastics is largely project-based." In the report, the researchers laid out frameworks to standardize microplastic sampling across the lakes. "The board offers actionable tools to help the Canadian and U.S. governments take a common and routine approach to monitoring microplastics," Rooney said.

"The frameworks proposed in this report could be leveraged for systematic and coordinated monitoring, assessment and management," Kidd added. "Adopting microplastics as an indicator of ecological health would improve our understanding of their prevalence and environmental impacts," she concluded. The report also recommends a follow-up study be conducted on the levels of human microplastic exposure in the Great Lakes basin—and the potential health impacts. Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about microplastic pollution? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.

Reference

Kidd, K., Rooney, R., Rochman, C., & Hataley, E. (2024). Monitoring, Ecological Risk Assessment, and Management of Microplastics in the Laurentian Great Lakes. International Joint Commission Great Lakes Science Advisory Board. https://ijc.org/en/sab/monitoring-ecological-risk-assessment-and-management-microplastics-laurentian-great-lakes