Microplastics Research

The Coastal & Heartland National Estuary Partnership (CHNEP) along with our partners launched a microplastics research project to gather information about the presence of this emerging pollutant in Southwest Florida. Prior to this study, little was known about their presence in our region. Microplastics are becoming of increasing concern as they can introduce added chemicals into waterways and be readily taken up through the food chain.

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Preliminary results (collected and processed in May 2018) show that microplastics are found in most samples collected. Check out the tables below to see if microplastics have been found in waterbodies or along shorelines near you!