NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Inuvialuit Settlement Region, Gwich'in Settlement Area

Tags: benthic sampling, water sampling, aquatic environment, Microplastics, Geotextiles

Objective(s): To determine whether geotextiles used in bank stability, such as those used along the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway, are a source of microplastics to Arctic aquatic environments and to determine whether terrestrial soils located directly downstream of geotextiles which flood during annual freshet are acting as sinks for microplastics originating from the geotextiles.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4999. The first objective of this project is to determine whether geotextiles used in bank stability, such as those used along the ITH, are a source of microplastics to Arctic aquatic environments. The second objective is to determine whether terrestrial soils located directly downstream of geotextiles which flood during annual freshet are acting as sinks for microplastics originating from the geotextiles. Further, the research team will assess the potential input of microplastics from atmospheric deposition so that the input of microplastics from geotextiles can be compared with this other potential microplastic transport pathway. To meet the objectives, surface water, sediment, terrestrial soil, and air samples will be collected upstream and downstream of the Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk Highway (ITH) bridges at Zed Creek and Hans Creek. Surface water... Show more samples will be collected using a Manta net which will be held in the middle of the stream channel. Benthic sediment will be collected from within the stream channel using an Ekman Grab sampler, and terrestrial sediment along the water’s edge and at a gradient away from the stream will be collected by scooping the top layer of sediment into glass jars. The research team plan to collect samples from at least five sites both upstream and downstream of the bridges, and up to 500 m along the creeks on either side of the bridges. Additionally, the team will install passive air samplers along the creeks on either side of the bridges to collect samples for atmospheric deposition over a longer period of time. Filters from these passive air samplers will be changed every 1-3 months, and all equipment will be removed at the end of the study period. The research team have reached out to the Joint Secretariat to inquire about involving the Imaryuk and Munaqsiyit monitors in the project, as well as the Inuvialuit Land Administration for the use of environmental monitors for work beyond the highway right of way. The team have also reached out to the Inuvik Hunters and Trappers Committee and the Tuktoyaktuk Hunters and Trappers Committee. The team will plan to present the research and findings to the communities of Inuvik and Tuktoyaktuk, however, the team will only present the research after COVID-19 restrictions have been lifted so to ensure the health and safety of community members. A plain language report will be produced at the end of the project and distributed to the communities, the Hunters and Trappers Committees and to the Aurora Research Institute (ARI). The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 15, 2021 to September 30, 2021. Show less