Study Reveals Spring Runoff Significantly Increases Microplastic Concentrations in Western Rivers
New research indicates that spring runoff dramatically increases microplastic concentrations in Western rivers. A study conducted by researchers at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) focused on Nevada’s Truckee River, which flows from Lake Tahoe through Reno to Pyramid Lake. They found that microplastic levels were nearly ten times higher during high spring flows in 2023 compared to low fall flows in 2022. Specifically, the average concentration rose from 0.4 microplastic particles per liter in the fall to 3.7 per liter in the spring. Monica Arienzo, who leads DRI’s Microplastics and Environmental Chemistry Lab, explained that while the maximum found in fall was one particle per quart-sized mason jar, it increased to ten particles per jar in the spring. Hannah Lukasik, who led the research, suggests that plastic particles accumulate on riverbanks and surrounding landscapes during drier periods, and the increased water flow during spring runoff mobilizes these particles, re-suspending them into the river s...
