Last summer, we had time for 10 deep-water sediment samples and 59 surface-water samples to fit within the time frame of an undergraduate honours thesis.
Why do the results of sediment tests differ from those of water tests? Why does MacDonald Bay have clear sediment but lots in the surface water? The answer is that small sample sizes do not always yield clear results. The study was designed to compare our whole lake with other lakes, not to divide it into bays.
For cottagers in South End and Stoney Lake Bay, there is no legal maximum for microplastic concentration anywhere in the world. There has not been enough research for the scientific community to even suggest a limit. Should we be worried about microplastic concentration? Maybe. But turn that energy into something positive. Take the lead in encouraging your neighbours to upgrade their docks and carry out shoreline cleanups.
Sediment in deepest parts | Surface water | |||
Microplastics/gram | Number of sites (one sample/site) | Microplastics/mililitre | Number of sites (multiple samples per site) | |
Bass Bay | Not tested | Not tested | 0.000274 | 1 |
MacDonald Bay | 0 | 1 | 0.001397 | 1 |
Dam Bay | 0.317 | 1 | 0.00021 | 1 |
North | 0.521 | 1 | 0.00085 | 2 |
Central | 0.624 | 1 | 0.000924 | 2 |
Connors Bay | 0.665 | 3 | 0.000906 | 4 |
Portage Bay | 0.666 | 2 | 0.000405 | 2 |
South | 2.597 | 1 | 0.000917 | 1 |
Stoney Lake Bay | Not tested | Not tested | 0.001509 | 1 |