Microplastics from Mats: The Creation of Microplastics in the Environment

Overview

Previous research has suggested that abiotic factors, such as UV irradiation, facilitate the degradation of artificial polymers, such as polyethylene, into microplastics. However, current research has yet to explore how varying abiotic factors impact the degradation of polyethylene foam from a water mat, recreational mats that are frequently seen and used on bodies of water, including Lake Murray, SC. Microplastics can be vectors for organic and inorganic pollutants and substances, which means they can have detrimental effects on human, animal, and ecosystem health. These tiny pollutants can have a major impact due to their widespread nature, which is why it is important to understand the manner in which they are created. In order to test the impact of abiotic factors on the degradation of the water mat, an experimental method was employed. 12 treatment groups and 6 control groups were tested. Experimental treatments consisted of UV irradiation and thermal radiation from 2 separate lamps. 6 samples of polyethylene were exposed to different conditions under each lamp. These environmental conditions consisted of lake water, pure water, and no water with two samples: one subjected to mechanical abrasion and the other without mechanical abrasion. The amount of microplastics was collected from each sample every two weeks. The individual samples were then manually counted using a handheld tally counter in order to quantify the dependent variable. Multiple ANOVA tests were conducted, however, only one that analyzed the groupings of light treatment with consideration for mechanical abrasion produced a significant p-value (p=0.006) conveying.