Microplastic pollution in freshwater streams around Adelaide

Project description

Microplastics consist of pieces of plastic smaller than 5 mm, such as the microbeads found in domestic and personal care products. Microplastics are a global biological and chemical hazard due to their propensity to be ingested by marine life. Freshwater streams, stormwater runoff, wastewater treatment plant discharge and atmospheric transport are pathways in which microplastics move from land to coastal marine environments. Multiple freshwater streams in Adelaide are potential pathways for microplastics entering the coastal waters of South Australia; the extent of microplastic pollution in these streams is currently unclear. Here, we aim to

1. quantify spatial and temporal variations in microplastic abundance in eight freshwater streams in Adelaide
2. estimate the amount of microplastics entering the Gulf St Vincent from these freshwater streams.

The projects builds on recent publications from our team; Leterme et al. 2023 , Mitchell et al. 2023 and Tuuri & Leterme 2023

Co-supervisors

Jason Gascooke (Flinders University) and Charles James (SARDI)

Assumed knowledge

Oceanography, marine sciences or environmental health

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You must also contact each supervisor directly to discuss both the project details and your suitability to undertake the project.