Water Resources Research Act Program

Details for Project ID DC_2024_Balestra

Spatial distribution and chemical characterization of microplastic and microbeads in river sediments in the DC area

Institute: District of Columbia
Year Established: 2024 Start Date: 2024-09-01 End Date: 2025-08-31
Total Federal Funds: $15,000 Total Non-Federal Funds: $15,000

Principal Investigators: Barbara Balestra

Project Summary: This project is about studying tiny pieces of plastic, called microplastics, and glass microbeads in the rivers around Washington, DC. These rivers include Rock Creek, the Anacostia, and the Potomac. Microplastics are really small bits of plastic, less than 5mm in size, that can be harmful to the environment. They can absorb toxic chemicals and get eaten by animals, starting a cycle of pollution in the food chain. In this project, researchers will collect sediment samples from four different spots in these rivers, twice a year for a year. They'll then analyze these samples to see how many microplastics and microbeads are in them. Microbeads are tiny beads of glass that can also carry harmful substances, like heavy metals. Students will help with this project, learning about microplastics and how to analyze data. By doing this research, they hope to understand more about pollution in these rivers and support efforts to keep them clean. This work aligns with the goals of the DC Water Resources Research Institute to monitor and prevent toxins in the water and to protect water supplies from contamination.