On The River worked with Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation on a worldwide microplastics study. 

Check out Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation's map show the results of their worldwide microplastics study. How many pieces of plastic were found near you?

Check out Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation's map show the results of their worldwide microplastics study. How many pieces of plastic were found near you?

Microplastics are tiny pieces of plastic that can enter our waterways and become  very dangerous. They act like a sponge concentrating toxins which animals - like humans - ingest. These toxic microplastics bioaccumulate, or increase in concentration, as animals eat prey that has built up levels of these plastic pieces.  These plastics are in our water from laundering synthetic clothes, using certain beauty products, and from litter breaking down over time. 

 

We collected 36 samples on the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers and are awaiting the results. We will be surprised if the samples don't have plastic, as we saw more and more plastic trash as we moved downstream:

Can you spot the frog among all the trash?

Can you spot the frog among all the trash?

Watch our Take 5 On The River video about microplastics and what it took to collect samples:

During our trip we have teamed up with Adventurers and Scientists for Conservation (http://www.adventurescience.org/microplastics) to collect samples of water to be tested for microplastics. This week on the river we learn what microplastics are and how we study them.

 
 
Lukily there are solutions to this microplastic problem. Picking up trash is a great way to help your local rivers and YOUR drinking water. In 2015 the United States voted to begin phasing out microplastics in cosmetics.

Lukily there are solutions to this microplastic problem. Picking up trash is a great way to help your local rivers and YOUR drinking water. In 2015 the United States voted to begin phasing out microplastics in cosmetics.