Microplastics pollution in Alaska

INE/WERC researchers recently published one of the first studies to asses microplastic pollution in precipitation and freshwater in Alaska.

Results showed that microplastics are found in every sample collected across three geographical regions (Far North, Interior, and Southcentral) in the state.

Microplastics in rivers, creeks, and snow decreased with increasing distance from the nearest coastlines and towns/communities.

UAF students even made their way up Denali to sample snow for analysis. Read Ned Rozell’s story "Microplastics low and high in Alaska" for the full story on this study.

Read the article:

Unveiling microplastics pollution in Alaskan waters and snow

Subhabrata Dev,  Davis Schwarz, Muradur Rashedin, Md Ibnul Hasan, Darya Kholodova, Shane Billings, David L. Barnes, Nicole Misarti, Navid B. Saleh, Srijan Aggarwal. Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2024,10, 2020-2029.

Image above:Graphical abstract depicting microplastics pollution in Alaska.