How Scientists Study Emerging Contaminants: Microplastics as a Case Study
This presentation will discuss how environmental chemists study “emerging contaminants” – unregulated chemicals and particles in the environment – using microplastics as a primary example of an emerging contaminant. The four key concepts that will be discussed are: (1) the sources of microplastics, (2) the processes governing the transport of microplastics, (3) the fate of microplastics, and (4) the impacts of microplastics on human and ecosystem health.
Join Bryce Cook, a physical scientist at the United States Geological Survey (USGS) – Upper Midwest Water Science Center. Specifically, Bryce works at the USGS M3 (Mercury, Metals, and Microplastics) Research Laboratory in Madison, Wisconsin, where he studies micro- and nanoplastics in the environment. Bryce graduated with his B.A. in Chemistry with a minor in environmental studies from Grinnell College in 2021. He graduated with his MSc in agricultural and environmental chemistry from U.C. – Davis in 2023.
Learn more about the work at the USGS M3 lab
- Target audience: Middle school students and up and their educators, although all are welcome
- Please pre-register for Zoom-based event
Questions about the event? Contact Anne Moser or Ginny Carlton.
Suggested pre-webinar concepts and activities
Students are welcome to attend the Students Ask Scientist presentation whether, or not, they have been exposed to the following concepts.
Become familiar with different types of plastic
- Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) used in water bottles, jars, and caps.
- High-density polyethylene (HDPE) used in shampoo bottles and grocery bags.
- Polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used in cleaning products and sheetings.
- Low-density polyethylene (LDPE) used in bread bags and plastic films.
- Polypropylene (PP) used in yogurt cups, straws, and hangers.
- Polystyrene (PS) used in carry out and hard packaging, as well as toys.
- Other used in baby bottles, nylon, and Cds.
View the infographic of the different types of plastic.
Looking for a related lab activity? Consider the “Identifying Plastics” activity (or a simplified version of it) from the Trash Trunk education kit.
Understand the size of micro- and nanoplastics
Macroplastics are 5 millimeters or larger. Microplastics are less than 5 millimeters and more than 1 micrometer. Other things in this size class include the width of a pencil tip (1 mm), a grain of salt (60 micrometers), and the width of a human hair (50-75 micrometers). Nanoplastics are less than 1 micrometer or 1,000 nanometers. Other things in this size class include a particle of smoke (100-700 micrometers), the SARS-COV-2 virion (COVID-19) at 60-140 nanometers, and the width of a strand of DNA (2 nanometers).
View a diagram of the Size of Micro- and Nanoplastics. Source: Based on a visual by Deonie and Steve Allen, presented in a webinar hosted by Plastic Pollution Coalition.
Suggested post webinar activities
Host a performance of the play Me and Debry
Have students inform others about these three questions: What are microplastics?, What are their impacts?, and What can be done? The rhyming script (in English), audience participation materials (in English, Spanish, and Hmong), and publicity templates are available on the Me and Debry!: A Grab-and-Go Education Kit page. Those in Wisconsin can also borrow a costume/prop kit.
Complete the Microfiber Lesson: The Effect of Washing Machines on Textiles
Learners design and conduct a hands-on science experiment that simulates different washing machine variables (e.g., water level, temperature, agitation duration, soap, etc.) and the impact on the number of microfibers released.
Source: The Rozalia Project