Microplastics found in 95 percent of Spruce Bluff Preserve sediment

Researchers from Florida Atlantic University have discovered microplastic contamination in 95 percent of sediment samples collected from Spruce Bluff Preserve, a 97-acre freshwater wetland in Port St. Lucie, Florida. The study, published in the journal Evolving Earth, highlights how wetlands can act as traps for plastic pollution from stormwater runoff and recreational activities.

Out of 40 sediment samples analyzed across various ecological zones, 38 contained microplastics. Approximately 88 percent of the confirmed particles were smaller than 2.5 millimeters, with nearly half identified as fibers, likely originating from synthetic textiles. The highest concentrations of these particles were found along the St. Lucie River.