Three Mount Allison University professors and several students will be taking a closer look at microplastics in the Saint John River watershed.
Three Mount Allison University professors and several students will be taking a closer look at microplastics in the Saint John River watershed. Dr. Josh Kurek (geography and environment), Dr. David Lieske (geography and environment), and Dr. Tyson MacCormack (biochemistry) have received over $184,000 in funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) through the Atlantic Ecosystems Initiatives program.
The announcement was made at Mount Allison on Oct. 10 by MP for Fundy Royal Alaina Lockhart on behalf of Minister of Environment the Honourable Catherine McKenna.
The newly-funded Mount Allison project — Emerging concerns of microplastic pollution in the Saint John River watershed — will include spatial and geographic information system data mapping. The project aims to determine microplastic distribution, demonstrating where there are concentrations of, and help recognize potential impacts to freshwater mussels.
“Microplastics are widespread in our environment, including our water, air, and soils,” says Mount Allison Geography and Environment Professor Dr. Josh Kurek, one of the researchers leading the project. “Many microplastics come from sources people might not expect, including synthetic materials used in clothing. Learning about how they affect freshwaters in our region will help to develop future strategies to reduce microplastics through technology, regulations, and public education.”
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Image via Mount Allison University.
