NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Tags: contaminants

Objective(s): To analyse samples of water to determine the presence or absence of floating microplastic at ~20 locations along the Peel and Mackenzie River systems.

Project Description: The Mackenzie River drainage basin is the second largest drainage basin in North America and is predominantly sparsely populated. The Peel and Wind River systems flow into the Mackenzie from an almost entirely uninhabited wilderness. The research team are undertaking a canoe expedition down the Wind, Peel and Mackenzie River system. The route starts in a region of almost no development (the Wind) where no plastic pollution is expected. The Peel also has virtually no development, but the river does run parallel to the Dempster Highway; recent studies estimate that microplastics from the wear and tear from tires is at least as important as plastic bottles, bags and fibres released from clothing during washing. The Mackenzie, comparatively, has more development upstream including several small villages, wastewater treatment plants and some industrial development around Normal Wells. The research team plan to analyse samples of water to determine the presence or absence of floating microplastic at ~20 locations during the expedition. The team will use conical microfilters, towed behind the canoe and deployed from the bank to collect samples daily at 20 locations. The filters will be examined on site for the presence or absence of plastic particles both by eye and using a modified smartphone operating as a microscope. GPS will be used to record water velocity during towed sampling and to record all sampling locations. Where plastic particles are identified, and where practicable, samples will be retained for analysis back in the United Kingdom (UK). The data will be published in a peer reviewed journal on return to the UK. The research team would like to explain the initial findings of the study at both Fort McPherson and Inuvik during the fieldwork period if possible. The team would also value any advice around the research findings in terms of the nature of the river system and any changes that are known locally that will not be observed during the expedition. If possible, the research team would like to present the initial findings in person in Fort McPherson and Inuvik; although this may not be possible given the flexibility in the programme. The team will advertise the results on the web and in writing, issuing non-technical reports to local communities. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 24, 2018 to August 2, 2018.