Microplastics in our Environment with J.P. Walsh

Decades ago, beach walkers scoured the sand for sea glass in a rainbow of colors. Now, beaches, salt marshes and our oceans are more likely to be infused with tiny bits of plastic. This lecture by professor of oceanography and a geological oceanographer, J.P. Walsh is part of the Barrington Land Conservation Trust's 2024 Land Trust Learning Series and was recorded live at Barrington Public Library in Barrington, Rhode Island on Wednesday, November 6 at 7 pm.

University of Rhode Island researchers in the COAST Lab (COASTL), led by Professor J.P. Walsh in the Graduate School of Oceanography, estimate that the top 2 inches of the floor of Narragansett Bay now contain more than 1,000 tons of microplastics. That buildup has occurred in just the last 10 to 20 years.

Microplastics are small plastic particles 5 centimeters or smaller. The smallest of these can’t be seen without a powerful microscope; the largest are plastic production pellets called “nurdles” about the size of a pea. Microplastic pollution comes from runoff, littering of single-use plastic items, wastewater treatment facilities, shipping, industrial plastic production, and fisheries. However, it’s estimated that only 1% of that marine plastic remains in the water column. Most microplastics are eventually deposited on shorelines and in marine sediment.

With more than 16 trillion microplastic particles trapped in the top layer of Narragansett Bay’s sediment, the bay is serving as a filter for plastic pollution. This trapping has negative consequences, and may cause behavioral changes in mammals, but might also point the way to potential for efficient removal. Coastal habitats are more easily accessible than the open ocean, making clean-up efforts more feasible.

About J.P. Walsh:

J.P. Walsh is a professor of oceanography and a geological oceanographer with a doctorate in oceanography from the University of Washington, a master of science in marine environmental science from Stony Brook University, and a bachelor’s degree in geology from Colgate University. Before joining URI’s Graduate School of Oceanography, he was a professor at East Carolina University and program head for coastal processes at the Coastal Studies Institute. His research focuses on coastal sedimentary processes and related aspects, such as coastal erosion, pollutant fate and sand resources for beach nourishment. He uses sediment characteristics, oceanographic measurements, GIS and geophysical methods to understand the processes shaping shorelines and the seafloor.

Over his career, Walsh has conducted research around the world including in the Philippines, France, New Zealand, Antarctica, and around the U.S. He is well known for his research investigating how sediments are eroded, transported and accumulate along coasts and in the ocean. This research is important to understanding geochemical cycling, evaluating ecosystem changes, defining coastal hazards and managing natural resources. He has recently spearheaded efforts to measure microplastics on the shoreline and seabed of Narragansett Bay, and he is working on several projects examining coastal change and resilience in New England.

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