YPIE Scientist: Roberto Lopez

Research: Assessing Microplastic Pollution in the Hudson River Before and After CSO-Linked Rainfall Events

Abstract:

Urban rivers like the Hudson face rising pollution from stormwater runoff and combined sewer overflows (CSOs), especially after heavy rainfall. Microplastics, which come from everyday items like clothing, packaging, and cosmetics, have been found all over the Hudson River and its marshes, harming aquatic ecosystems and possibly human health. Past studies show that rainfall increases microplastic levels, but there’s limited data on this effect at specific CSO locations. This project focuses on measuring microplastic concentrations before and after CSO-linked rainfall events at the Yonkers waterfront to better understand how much these events contribute to river pollution. To do this, I’ll collect water samples twice a week—after rain and during dry weather—at a known CSO outlet. The samples will be filtered with a fine mesh sieve, and the microplastics will be examined under a microscope and sorted by type and color. Environmental factors like temperature and tide will be recorded too. Other

studies (Ravit et al., 2017; Ross et al., 2023) used similar methods to compare microplastic levels across different weather conditions and sites. I expect to find higher microplastic levels after rainfall, especially larger particles, while dry-weather samples might show fewer and smaller fragments. These trends would match other research showing CSOs worsen microplastic pollution. This study will help show how preventable infrastructure-related events like CSOs impact river health.

Presentation Slides