Date of Award
12-2024
Document Type
Campus Access Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Environmental Sciences
First Advisor
Juanita Urban-Rich
Second Advisor
Helen Poynton
Third Advisor
Stephanie Wood LaFond
Abstract
Microplastics, plastics smaller than 5mm, are ubiquitous on this planet. Not only has plastic been found in nature, but it has also been discovered in the bodies of living organisms. While microplastic research is still ongoing, it is unknown whether microplastics are present in the lungs of marine megafauna. This research sets to test the lungs of 6 marine megafauna (2 seals, 1 dolphin, and 2 turtles) to uncover if there is a presence of microplastics in marine megafauna lungs. Since this is the first research of its kind, a new procedure had to be created via methods testing. Once the hydrolyzation and staining procedures were created, microplastics were discovered in all the lung samples. Concentrations ranged from 2.27 mp/g to 21.93 mp/g. Both microplastic categories, fibers and fragments, were found in each section of the lung across all samples. Seals held the highest concentration of microplastics per gram, followed by turtles, then the dolphin.
Recommended Citation
Reiling, Reese, "The Presence of Microplastic in the Lungs of Marine Megafauna" (2024). Graduate Masters Theses. 873.
https://scholarworks.umb.edu/masters_theses/873
Comments
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