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Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) (<5mm) are an anthropogenic contaminant found in most natural aquatic environments. To assess microplastic abundance and sources in a small public aquarium, samples from four tanks were collected bi-weekly from October 2020 through May 2021, when visitor access was limited due to COVID restrictions, and from May 2021 through December 2021, when the aquarium was fully open to visitors. Samples were analyzed from the reservoir source water tank, a touch tank, and two standard display tanks for the presence and identity of microplastics using confocal Raman microscopy. During the Covid-lockdown period, a carpet renovation took place in the aquarium building and was tested as a potential source of microplastics to the tanks. Data collected suggests that mechanical filtration used in the tanks was not a major source of microplastics, but this filtration was inadequate to remove MPs introduced by the major sources of airborne contamination and source waters.