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Understanding Microplastic Levels, Pathways, and Transport in the San Francisco Bay Region

Rebecca Sutton, Diana Lin, Meg Sedlak, Carolynn Box, Alicia N. Gilbreath, Rusty Holleman, Ezra Miller, Adam Wong, Keenan Munno, Xia Zhu | October 2nd, 2019


Microplastics (particles less than 5 mm) are ubiquitous and persistent pollutants in the ocean and a pervasive and preventable threat to the health of marine ecosystems. Microplastics come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes, and plastic types, each with unique physical and chemical properties and toxicological impacts. Understanding the magnitude of the microplastics problem and determining the highest priorities for mitigation require accurate measures of microplastic occurrence in the environment and identification of likely sources. To develop critical baseline data and inform solutions, the San Francisco Estuary Institute and the 5 Gyres Institute have completed the first comprehensive regional study of microplastic pollution in a major estuary.

Keywords

microplastics, Sacramento–San Joaquin Delta, water quality