Project Summary

Microplastics are plastic particles that are less than five millimeters in diameter, and are a growing concern in local waterways, as they pose a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems. The Hudson River is an estuary located in New York, and is home to many aquatic species. Microplastic transportation in aquatic systems is widely unknown, so the effects of tidal (directional) changes in the Hudson River on microplastic concentration were investigated. Water samples from an area of the river in Nyack, New York were collected at high and low tide, for five days. The samples were then filtered and microplastic counts from each were recorded. Each sample contained 1-7 plastic particles, and the high tide samples consistently had greater plastic concentration (by an average of 1.6 pieces) compared to the low tide samples. Microplastics were largely present in the Hudson River, and changes in flow direction altered the concentration of the microscopic plastic. Thus, microplastic concentration is not uniform throughout the river, and is greater south of Nyack, towards New York City, a major urban center. Eventual removal processes should be focused closer to the city, as microplastics are present there in higher numbers.