The science of microplastics is young and evolving. At this point, there is no clear evidence that microplastics in lake water or sediment cause health impacts in people who use the lake. However, absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. Scientists are actively studying how microplastics affect humans, wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.
Your shoreline is likely low risk for microplastic pollution if:
The wind has never deposited toys, bottles, or garbage on your shoreline.
You have never had a polystyrene foam dock nearby, e.g., within 20 m.
Your property is not downwind of a polystyrene foam dock on another shore.
If you are this lucky, you are probably receiving the same amount of microplastics as seen on low-risk beaches (see next post). Remember, as the science evolves, the risk assessment may change; in the 1960s, smoking was acceptable.
