ENS 301.02: Exploring Grand Haven Tourism's Impact on Microplastic Accumulation in Lake Michigan
Ashley Amirault
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Introduction
Introduction
For residents of West Michigan, Grand Haven has a long-standing reputation for being a tourist hotspot. The majesty of Lake Michigan's waters, beautiful sunsets, beaches, annual festivities, and a wide variety of restaurants have made this town quite the tourist phenomenon. However, research has shown that where there are people, there is plastic pollution. Recent studies explore the impact of microplastics (MP) on marine and freshwater ecosystems, but there is limited research on Michigan's most popular coastal destinations and how large volumes of foot traffic contribute to MP in Lake Michigan. This study aims to understand how tourists' attitudes, norms, and education levels regarding MP and plastic pollution influence their behavior and waste management when visiting Grand Haven's beaches.
Mini-Literature Review
Microplastics are minuscule pieces of plastic that are roughly 5 mm. or smaller. These particles quickly clog ecosystems and are incredibly difficult to remove once they’ve infiltrated waterways and food webs.
Microplastics can be formed from the breakdown of larger segments of plastic into smaller particles. These microplastics can detach from a wide variety of single-use plastics and municipal solid wastes due to various natural forces like wind, waves, temperatures, and ultraviolet (UV) exposure. When these plastics are not disposed of responsibly, they have a chance of breaking down and releasing MP into the environment.
The chemical buildup of MP makes them highly capable of transporting and releasing pollutants through our lakes and streams. Chemical additives like flame retardants, colorants, and plasticizers are typically used in the production of polymer, an ingredient for creating plastic. When microplastics enter a body of water, they can leach these additives into the surrounding water and intoxicate organisms that ingest them.
MP are capable of absorbing and transporting outside pollutants, such as pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), and various metals through aquatic environments.
Many of the top fish predators in aquatic ecosystems are victims of MP, as the particle's small size and tendency to accumulate in groups make them appear as an appealing food source to fish. The accumulation of tiny plastic particles alongside their toxic chemical companions can cause physical and behavioral changes in fish, including stress on their immune systems and metabolisms, stunts in growth and development, and an increase in mortality rates.
Aquatic plants, phytoplankton, mussels, and other filter-feeding organisms have been known to ingest/absorb MP as well, which can result in serious physiological harm that can transcend trophic levels.
Accompanying elevated foot traffic near waterways often comes an influx of litter and solid waste scattered along their shorelines, which can be the result of poor waste management infrastructure. In the last decade, single-use plastics have become the primary source of plastic pollution in some of the more urban, widely visited destinations.
It is widely argued that a lack of education and knowledge regarding MP accumulation is a culprit for higher MP density in high-traffic areas and coastlines. Developing studies and research often identify gaps in public knowledge in various regions, particularly around the importance of marine/freshwater ecosystems to society and their individual impact on plastic buildup in their environments.
Research Question: "How does Grand Haven tourism impact microplastic accumulation in Lake Michigan's ecosystem?"
As one of Lake Michigan’s tourist hot spots, it’s important for Grand Haven’s future sustainable development and the health of Lake Michigan’s ecosystem that we determine the tourist destination’s impact on MP accumulation in Lake Michigan’s ecosystem.
Sustainable Development Goal 14 promotes the importance of “sustainable use and conservation of marine (including freshwater) resources." Furthering our knowledge of microplastics and tourism’s impact on MP accumulation in Lake Michigan will hopefully bring us one step closer to minimizing microplastics' impact on Lake Michigan’s ecosystem. If we can pinpoint the factors that influence tourists to leave behind plastic waste, we can create a plan of action to address the issue and minimize plastic waste entering the Great Lakes.
Theoretical Framework: Norm Activation Theory
Theoretical Framework: Norm Activation Theory
To understand tourist behaviors regarding littering and plastic pollution on Grand Haven’s beaches, the Norm Activation Theory can be used to describe the factors that influence tourists’ decision-making regarding how they manage their plastic waste. Norm Activation Theory suggests that two main factors can contribute to an individual's “personal norms,” which is what ultimately drives an individual's behaviors: awareness of the consequences of their actions, and the responsibility (or lack thereof) they feel toward a particular situation.
Other factors such as ability, efficacy, and an individual's awareness of their own needs can also contribute to their personal norms regarding the management of plastic waste.
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