Exploring Patterns in Microplastic Pollution in a Large Rural Watershed

Microplastics are a ubiquitous contaminant of emerging concern and their movement through freshwater systems is an understudied part of the “plastic cycle.” To assess spatial and temporal variation in the composition and concentration of microplastics in a river system, I collected monthly surface water samples from 16 sites in an agriculturally dominated watershed in southwestern Georgia. I used generalized linear models (GLMMs) to investigate relationships among plastics, land use variables, and physicochemical properties. The analyses suggested that microplastic concentrations are strongly related to soluble reactive phosphorous (SRP) in the water column. These findings enhance our understanding of plastic pollution dynamics in rural watersheds.