FIELD RESEARCH




Microplastics in Sediment:


Anika and Trevor

Sediment cores from deep lake bottoms are collected by Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) using a box corer deployed from a ship. Sediment core samples in shallower depths (<9 m) are collected using a glew gravity corer and fishing boat Photo: Anika and Trevor with the glew corer on Lake Ontario.






Microplastics in Sediment:



Natalie Chris

We collect sediment from river and pond bottoms using a petite ponar grab, metal trowel and pan, and glass jars. Photos: Natalie with the petite ponar in a stormwater pond; Chris filling a jar with sampled sediment.






Micro- and Macroplastics along Shorelines:


We search for plastic debris along shorelines using sieves and our hands and place the particles in paper bags. Photos: Kelly surveying for pellets on a Lake Ontario beach; Owen sieving for plastics on a Lake Huron beach.

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Microplastics in Biota:


Anika and Trevor

Mussels are identified using a viewer on the surface of the water. Fish are caught by local northern communities and their stomachs are sent to us for processing. Photo: Alex using a viewer to find mussels in the Thames River, Canada.