Microplastic Pollution
Impact on the SF Bay Delta and Remediation Strategies
In May, I had the privilege of attending the Microplastic Pollution: Impact on the SF Bay Delta and Remediation Strategies symposium hosted by the Coastal Marine Sciences Institute (CMSI) and the Delta Stewardship Council (DSC). Microplastics are all over the news and have been found almost everywhere. They are defined as being plastic pollution that are generally smaller than 5mm a piece. When found in the environment, they are often incorporated into the foodwebs, either through filtration or consumption which can cause various issues for those animals that consume microplastics.
This symposium was filled with a great series of talks that covered a wide range of the current issues in microplastics being researched. Talks described monitoring programs in different habitats, looked at specific ways that microplastics act as toxins and spread pathogens, and discussed frameworks for monitoring and managing the risks around this emerging issue.