Under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, scientists monitoring the microplastics threat in the Great Lakes are urging the governments of the United States and Canada to classify microplastics as a Chemical of Mutual Concern and strengthen monitoring and risk assessment efforts.

Microplastics Threat in Great Lakes

Microplastics, which are tinier than a pencil eraser and less than 5 millimeters in length, are thought to be a widespread issue in the Great Lakes. Tire wear, construction sites, fertilizers, cosmetics, washing synthetic garments, and, of course, litter are just a few of the sources through which they get into lakes and rivers. In a recent report, the International Joint Commission’s Science Advisory Board called for widespread Great Lakes monitoring.​

Environmental and Health Impacts

Karen Kidd, a McMaster biologist, report co-author, and member of the IJC’s Science Advisory Board, says microplastic particles are a persistent environmental contaminant that requires coordinated monitoring and additional research.

Kidd, who is the holder of the Biology Department’s Jarislowsky Chair in Environment and Health, states, “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.“​

Since 2019, she and her students have been researching microplastics in southern Ontario rivers. According to her, larger plastics decompose into ever-tinier pieces, which eventually become microplastics that fish and the animals they feed on can readily ingest.

They can build up in aquatic animals, affecting their development, survival, and capacity for reproduction. These microscopic plastic particles are more prevalent in populated regions and are extremely persistent in the environment, taking decades to decompose. The microplastics threat in the Great Lakes is particularly concerning due to its long-term impact on aquatic ecosystems and food chains.

Humans who drink water and eat fish from the Great Lakes may be at risk for health problems due to microplastics. Researchers in other areas are discovering them in many human body tissues. A follow-up study on human exposure to microplastics and the risks they pose in the Great Lakes region is suggested by the paper. Addressing the microplastics threat in the Great Lakes requires a comprehensive approach, including stricter pollution controls and improved monitoring efforts.

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A Call to Action from Scientists

Several important measures have been suggested by the International Joint Commission’s Science Advisory Board (IJC-SAB), including designating microplastics as a chemical of Mutual Concern and implementing a coordinated, basin-wide monitoring program. According to the IJC-SAB, “The Parties should create and implement a basin-wide, coordinated monitoring program for microplastics in the Great Lakes (in lake and tributary water, sediment, and biota) that includes the harmonization of field and lab methods among federal, state, provincial, local, and Indigenous agencies.“​

Current Policies and Gaps

The United States and Canada track a number of indicators by Annex 10 of the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement (GLWQA) to evaluate the condition of the Great Lakes ecosystem. Although reconnaissance-level sampling for microplastics has been carried out, there are still many unknowns regarding origins, transportation, mitigation techniques, and geographical and temporal variability.

Numerous sampling and analysis techniques are used in the Great Lakes microplastics measurements that are currently available. The existing capacity to evaluate the state and trends of microplastics in the area is limited by the absence of standardized procedures for sample collection and analysis, as well as reporting criteria.​

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Possible Solutions and Next Steps

Since more than half of the plastics used today end up in landfills or as litter and their manufacturing from fossil fuels contributes to global climate change, Kidd and many other experts advocate for more regulations to minimize plastic consumption and production.

She suggests that people can make a difference by taking easy steps like eliminating single-use plastics and adding filters to dryers and washing machines to catch plastic fibers that are released from clothes.

“It is much more expensive to clean up the Great Lakes than it is to prevent pollution in the first place,” Kidd stated.

The IJC-SAB advises using common criteria and procedures for microplastic monitoring to promote solutions. According to their suggested definition, “Microplastics are defined as solid polymeric materials to which chemical additives or other substances may have been added, and which are particles greater than 1 μm and less than 5,000 μm in all three dimensions.“​

The paper also recommends the implementation of a coordinated framework for ecological risk assessment and management. According to preliminary risk criteria, there may be microplastic concentrations in some Great Lakes water samples that are higher than ecologically concerning levels.

Stricter regulations should be put in place, according to experts, to stop microplastic pollution before it starts. “The Parties should take action to reduce plastic pollution emissions into the Great Lakes watershed in order to minimize environmental concentrations and mitigate additional ecological risk, given the persistence and pervasiveness of microplastics.”

Key Takeaway

The Great Lakes, a vital source of drinking water and home to a wealth of wildlife, are experiencing an increasing microplastic problem. Both scientists and decision-makers concur that immediate action is required to lessen the long-term effects on the environment and human health.

By designating microplastics as a Chemical of Mutual Concern, strengthening monitoring systems, and implementing more stringent pollution regulations, the IJC-SAB strongly encourages the United States and Canada to act immediately. The Great Lakes’ health and the communities that depend on them are still in jeopardy if these steps are not taken.

Prevention is significantly more economical than cleanup, as Kidd highlights. Policymakers, environmental groups, and individuals must now take immediate action to safeguard one of the most important ecosystems in North America from the increasing threat posed by microplastics. Addressing the microplastics threat in the Great Lakes through proactive policies and long-term solutions is essential to ensuring the sustainability of this vital water system.

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