Microplastics

Slide show of microplastics found in our lakes, rivers, and coastal waters. Microplastics are very small pieces of plastic, some-times so small that they cannot be seen with the naked eye. They result from breakdown of larger plastic objects, such as plastic bottles and bags litter, car tires, and other objects. They come from many different sources including synthetic textiles, industrial waste products, personal care products. USGS and its partners monitor and evaluate microplastics to study the potential effects in the ecosystem and public water supplies.