Microplastics are tiny plastic particles, generally defined as less than 5 millimeters in size. They come in various forms, including fragments, fibers, pellets (nurdles), and foams. These minuscule pieces of plastic pose a significant threat to our environment and aquatic ecosystem. The toxic chemicals in microplastics can affect the growth and health of a range of animals and plants in Lake Leelanau, including us.
The Invisible Invaders: How Microplastics End Up in Our Lake
Microplastics can start out small, or break down over time from larger pieces of plastic, like clothing, water bottles, plastic bags, cigarette butts, and construction foam. Certainly, one path of microplastics to Lake Leelanau is improper disposal, such as littering or when trash accidentally blows into the water from your boat or shoreside picnic. However, unintentional pollution from rainwater runoff is a significant contributor as is the effluent from our septic systems. While septic systems are designed to filter out solids and some pollutants, they are not very effective at removing microplastics. The small size of microplastics allows them to pass through the system and into the surrounding soil eventually reaching groundwater and lakes.
