Preliminary Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Microplastics Along the Cuyahoga River, Northeast, Ohio

Author

• Ella PitzFollow

College

Buchtel College of Arts and Sciences

Date of Last Revision

2026-04-28 12:32:33

Major

Geology

Honors Course

GEOL 497

Number of Credits

2

Degree Name

Bachelor of Science

Date of Expected Graduation

Spring 2026

Abstract

Plastics are nearly ubiquitous throughout modern society, and when left in the natural environment, they degrade into microplastics. Microplastics are particles that range in diameter from 5 millimeters down to nanometers, and microplastics pose many potential environmental and health risks due to their small size and ease of ingestion. While the study of microplastics in the environment has become more common over the past ten years, microplastic concentrations remain unexplored in many regions throughout the country. Here I present a method for separating microplastics from organic matter and clastic sediment as well as preliminary measurements of microplastic concentrations in sediment of the Cuyahoga River in Northeast Ohio. I test the hypothesis that microplastic concentrations increase near urban areas with higher population density. I sampled five locations along the Cuyahoga River, collecting sediment deposited on the riverbanks. Sample locations were selected at varied distances from population centers and upstream and downstream from small tributaries, allowing for an examination of spatial correlation between microplastic concentrations and proximity to population centers. Microplastics were found at all sampling locations with increased proportions of microplastics nearest to population centers, such as the cities of Akron and Cuyahoga Falls. Microplastic content was also investigated by grain size with the finer grain sizes containing larger proportions of microplastics at 4 of the 5 sampling locations and one location containing course microplastic.

Research Sponsor

Dr. Nick Pollock

First Reader

Dr. John Peck

Second Reader

Dr. John Senko

Honors Faculty Advisor

Dr. Caleb Holyoke

Proprietary and/or Confidential Information

No

Community Engaged Scholarship

No

Recommended Citation

Pitz, Ella, "Preliminary Analysis of the Spatial Distribution of Microplastics Along the Cuyahoga River, Northeast, Ohio" (2026). Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects. 2117.
https://ideaexchange.uakron.edu/honors_research_projects/2117