Swim Drink Fish Blog
Read the latest updates and news releases about community science, water monitoring, Artists for Water, and more.
Zooming in on the Five Types of Microplastics
Plastics make up 80% of litter in the Great Lakes. From plastic water bottles and lids to grocery bags and food packaging, you’ve likely seen some form of plastic floating in Lake Ontario or on the shorelines. Here's a breakdown of the five major type of microplastics.
Comments on microplastics solutions submitted to IJC
To help assess solutions to microplastics in the Great Lakes, the International Joint Commission invited the public to "comment on their Preliminary Recommendations on Microplastics in the Great Lakes for binational, science, policy, and education solutions to microplastic pollution." Here are Waterkeeper's joint comments.
Microfibres: The microplastic causing macro-problems in global waters
There’s a lot of concern over plastics these days. Plastic pollution now accounts for 80% of all the waste in the Great Lakes. But one particular type of microplastic has long gone under the radar for years –microfibres.
Microbeads labeled “toxic” as Canada prepares to ban the tiny plastic polluters
The Government of Canada has officially labelled microbeads “toxic” under federal law. This label is the first step in the official process to ban microbeads in Canada. The ban will apply to cleansers and cosmetic products that have been polluting waterways nationwide.
Waterkeeper's comment on proposed federal microbeads regulations, March 2016
The Federal Government is currently developing regulations to eliminate the use of microbeads in personal care products. In February, the government made its proposed regulations available to the public for comment. Lake Ontario Waterkeeper, Ottawa Riverkeeper, Fraser Riverkeeper and North Saskatchewan Riverkeeper submitted joint comments on the proposed regulations. Read them here.
Plastic pollution
Plastics are plaguing rivers, lakes, and oceans around the world. And it doesn't appear to be slowing down. This is the first of Waterkeeper's six-part series on protecting waters, originally featured in Canadian Yachting's October 2015 issue.
Microplastics sampling with biologist Lisa Erdle and Toronto Brigantine Inc.
A microplastics monitoring program officially launched for Toronto and the Great Lakes. We had the honour of going on the program’s first official sample sail. Take a look at what we found.
Consuming Microbeads
"Microbeads are appearing all over the Great Lakes, destroying habitat, fish, and wildlife. They needlessly contaminate our food and water supply. The way government, business, volunteer organizations, and individuals respond to the microbeads crisis will send a signal. It will tell the world and future generations just how much we value our freshwater heritage."
Latest Buzz on Microbeads
We know the damage microbeads are causing to our waterways and our health. So what's being done?