Grace Wilkinson, associate professor within the Nelson Institute’s Center for Ecology and the Environment (CEE), was among the authors of a study that analyzed the microplastic pollution of 132 Iowa lakes.
Conducted during the summer of 2021, the study found that Iowa lakes contain an average of five microplastic particles per liter, mostly polyvinyl chloride (46 percent), polyester (30 percent), and polyethylene (11 percent). Concentrations were higher in lakes near roads and developed areas, and lower in deeper, clearer lakes.
Two statistical models explained only eight percent variability, highlighting complexity in microplastic distribution. In seven lakes, microplastic levels approached concentrations potentially harmful to aquatic life, underscoring the need for more freshwater-focused microplastic research.
Wilkinson is a limnologist and ecosystem ecologist who studies the connections between aquatic and terrestrial systems. She is the principal investigator of the Wilkinson Limnology Lab where her work explores how biogeochemistry, water quality, and ecosystem resilience intersect to shape environmental health and function.
