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.

Comments

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Additional Files

defense_form_complete.pdf (176 kB)

Thesis_Signatory_Page.pdf (278 kB)

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