Let us Soxhlet that for you

Good times today in the old North Seattle chemistry lab. We set up a soxhlet apparatus for the purpose of practice. The thing we extracted?-- chlorophyll and triglycerides from some home-grown (well, lab grown, really) algae. Thanks Kat and Marian for parting with some of your babies in the name of science.

The purpose of conducting this experiment is to have a solid handle on the set up and procedure before it's used for microplastics. Rather than algae, we'll be soxhleting virgin polypropelene pellets -- which will now and forever be referred to as 'virgin pp'-- and hopefully be able to quantify the concentration of PCB's leaching into the suckers from Lake Washington. After the leaching, the pellets must be referred to as 'tainted pp', because the term is more scientifically accurate.

Befriending the Fisheries

Arni H Litt of the UW School of Aquatic Fishery Science was kind enough to let us tag along on her boat Tuesday to retrieve microplastic samples out towards the center of lake Washington.

It was a gorgeous day and our faces even got a little sunburned (November in Seattle-- can you believe it?!) We learned so much about field research just from watching Arni conduct her own field work. Years of experience were displayed when we were shown superior methods for net handling and sample transfer techniques. Such a great trip!

We do regret, however, the eventual murder of hundreds of the zooplankton, Daphnia. Sorry little guys! I wish you didn't get caught in our net.

Another Outing!

We have now, thanks to one Debra and Leo DeCastillo-- who stuck it out on Saturday-- two samples for each site we have sampled. This means when they're all fully processed we can start making some hypotheses about the total plastic accumulation in Lake Washington!

First!

Next Saturday, Moira and I (Lauren) will scurry back through the sites and take third data points. And-- oh my goodness-- we can say we're done with the field work!

Best thing so far: A Bald Eagle swooped down and grabbed a fish in front of us while we were sampling
Worst thing so far: Dead white rat in the water at Log Boom Park in Kenmore. Also, just the state of the water at Kenmore. So much debris, you wouldn't believe it. And yes, that is a half-submerged picnic table we saw at Log Boom Park.

Our Second Outing

We were able to obtain samples from North Lake Washington near the Sammamish river and Western Lake Washington near the University. Pulling that net, whether it be by Kayak or Row Boat, is hard work due to the drag, but the data is worth it! Much thanks goes out to our advisors Kalyn Owens and Ann Murkowski for lending us wet suits to keep warm on that very cold day.

Another Day Another Dollar

Our Abstract has been formally submitted for the symposium. (Yay!)

All of Julie's samples are processed and the data is in her electronic hands. (Yay again!)

Now Team, we need to get a boat and tow our manta net through some Lake Washingtons!

Tuesday catch-up

Came to our attention on Tuesday that we had a couple samples from before the break that hadn't been processed, so we boiled down the Comm Bay (pm) tow and the QMH tow. Both samples were then placed in they drying oven for Weds processing.

Wednesday approacheth

For Weds we've got a pretty complete draft of our abstract to play with, and Deb's husband has made some equipment for us so we're going to hike out to "the pipe" and see what happens. I think we also need a progress report - I'd be happy to type that up, its much easier now with the blog, you just summarize the last few posts!

See you all on Weds - I'm eager to get out into "the field"

Our Abstract so far

Plastic debris in water systems has long been a source of concern, and recently an international effort has been made to address the unique problems presented by the small pieces of plastic suspended in water , >1.6µg. Quantifying these microplastics contributes to a clearer picture of marine and freshwater pollution. Initial efforts to quantify mircoplastics have concentrated on marine environments. This study attempts to investigate the origin of microplastics found in Puget Sound by sampling Lake Washington and surrounding watershed.

This study utilizes the sampling and processing protocol developed by researchers at University of Washington, Tacoma.

Multiple water samples were collected from basins and waterways that populate Lake Washington for the purpose of quantifying the presence of microplastics. The sites sampled include the Cedar River Basin, Sammamish River Basin, Ship Canal Bridge, North Coast of Mercer Island and the Coast of Kirkland, one of Lake Washington’s busiest leisure areas. Two methods were used for the collection of samples. For the in-flows from the basins a line was drawn across the surface of the water with a drift net attachment and a flow meter to track the rate of the water entering Lake Washington. For samples gathered in the middle of the lake, a drift net was set aft of our small sailing vessel by a pole and rope. The drift net remained in the epilimnion of the Lake which is 12m deep (Washington.gov). We trolled at no less than .5 knots and no greater than 5 knots. The samples were then brought to a lab for processing. Processed samples were examined under a microscope and plastic pieces <>

Processed samples were found to have less than 1mg of non organic debris per (unit volume) of water flow. The presence of these microplastics is most likely due to urban waste run-off and further study is warranted.

What got done on Friday 2.11.11

Friday was pretty productive, we fleshed out an abstract draft, processed one of the bucket samples and then decided to see what the fibers we're finding in all these samples look like under closer inspection. With the help of Kat we got some pretty good images! Below are pictures of a blue fiber, some clear fibers, and what they look like on the sieve

Pre-UTF fund buying

Hey gang, so it looks like we're going to get our hands on a flow meter and a cod-end assembly prior to our UTF funding. Thank Frank for his quick action on this, and hopefully we'll be able to start sampling sooner than we thought!

Some Ideas for the Abstract

These are just some ideas, not meant to be anything other than a rough (incomplete) outline.



Some Title Ideas (forgive my poor attempts at humor, I've had a lot of coffee)

1.Quantifying Microplastics in Urban Run-off
2.The Small bits of Plastic Going Down a Drain Near You!
3.Microplastic Collection and Concentration in Urban Run-Off
4.Microplastic Concentration and Collection in Urban Runoff
5.NSCC's Microplasticpalooza
6. Microplastics in Seattle-Tacoma Urban Run-off
7.Microplastics in Urban Runoff
8.Deadliest Catch: Microplastics edition
9.More Plastic than Plankton? Quantifying Microplastics in Urban Runoff
10.Microplastics Concentration in Urban Runoff





Importance of Study:

Plastic debris in water systems has long been a source of concern, and recently an international effort has been made to address the unique problems presented by small pieces of plastic suspended in water. Quantifying these microplastics contributes to a clearer picture of marine and freshwater pollution.

Clear statement of purpose:

Sampling urban runoff from the Seattle metropolitan in order to contribute to the wider question concerning where microplastics in marine environments come from.

NSCC bucket-samples 2.11.11

Calling all microplastics types - are we on for Friday processing? We also have an abstract draft to finish and submit for revision, so Friday (2.11.11) is shaping up to be a busy day. Reply if you're going to be here please!

Friday 2.4.2011

- Boiled down all the NSCC bucket samples
- Picked out plastic from the Whidbey basin tow
- Debra worked on creating a flow-chart for the lab method

Left 1 of the NSCC bucket samples covered in tin foil in care of Frank et al to be processed on Monday.

memo

Past Progress

We completed our UTF proposal and are currently waiting to hear back from the grant organization. The total of the grant was projected to be approximately $2000. We will organize our presentation in the coming week.

The scope of the project has widened in regards to the amount of data we plan to gather once the grant comes through. Two team members will focus on gathering samples from Lake Washington while the other two members will focus on collecting samples from drains and water basins that empty into lake Washington. These two areas of focus will provide the team with enough information to hypothesize where the majority of micoplastics come from in lake Washington.

On Friday, the 28^th of January, Debra utilized the organic chemistry lab to finish processing the [name] bay sample Julie brought us.

Future Plans

This coming Friday we will go to the organic chemistry lab on the North seattle campus to process the water samples collected by Debra and Moira from the local drains for the purpose of becoming familiar with the technique designed to extract microplastics from water samples. The plan is be there from 9am until the drying stage is reached in the procedure.

In the next two weeks we plan to fully lay out the map for sample sites. Already planning on taking samples from Lake Washington’s primary inflow and outflow sites, additional site will be chosen based on calculations relating to the physical properties of Lake Washington, i.e. winds, shorelines, natural currents, etc…

Updated UTF proposal

Here's the updated UTF proposal;

""Intended Location/Department: Science Department


Description: 

We represent a group of science students participating in NSCC's undergrad research program. Mentored by instructors Kalyn Owens and Ann Murkowski, our group is conducting research into water quality by quantifying microplastics load in samples from Puget Sound and local freshwater systems. Partnering with UW Tacoma and the Center for Urban Waters, our research will contribute to an international effort to address ecologically important questions about plastic concentrations in water. To that aim we would like to purchase 2 plankton nets, 2 geological sieves, a custom frame, and a flow meter. The frame has been custom designed by a local engineer for use behind a boat in wetlands or lakes. NSCC will be one of the first institutions to utilize the new international standards for microplastic collection, standards developed by our research partners at UW Tacoma. We will also partner with NSCC's nanotechnology program to identify plastics with the atomic force microscope, lending our project an interdisciplinary rigor.

Expected Benefits: 

In line with NSCC's position as a national leader in community college undergrad research, this purchase gives NSCC students necessary tools for current and future research projects. NSCC students in a variety of scientific disciplines will be able to utilize plankton nets equipped with flow meters to capture, observe, and quantify organisms and debris suspended in the water column. The information gathered from on-campus studies with flow meter-equipped plankton nets will contribute to NSCC's wetland restoration by providing data on wetland life and pollution. Outdoor labs with engaging equipment also fosters an appreciation for science, nature, and sustainability in students. Providing community college students with meaningful undergraduate research opportunities and equipment supports NSCC's mission to innovate, expand partnerships, and embrace sustainability.


Line Items:

1– Flow Meter………………………….……..$370
1– Drift net……………………………………$350
1 -Custom net for manta frame……………..…$1000
1- Cod-end jar and assembly……………………$80
2 – Geological Sieves………………………….$200"
?? - ATF Tips......................................................$???"

Friday (1.28.2011) Sample Processing

Friday morning the Whidbey Basin tow will be processed by Del Castillo and Earley, start time is 9am in the Organic Chemistry lab for any interested.

Going forward I'd like to ensure some continuity in procedure by having one or two people take ownership of the lab side of things (and then of course the field side of things when we get that rolling).

We've got a proposal draft!

"Intended Location/Department: Science Department


Description:

The microplastics team is a group of science students led by instructors K. Owens and A. Murkowski. We are doing research in conjunction with UW Tacoma and the Center for Urban Waters. We intend to conduct our own independent research to look for small plastic particles at the water surface of freshwater systems. To that aim we would like to purchase 2 plankton nets, and a flow meter. We will mount one net to a frame that has been custom designed and donated to us by a local engineer for use behind a boat in wetlands or lakes. The other net will be used in streams, creeks or rivers to collect floating particles.

Expected Benefits:

Outdoor labs with engaging equipment like the nets also foster an appreciation for science, nature, and sustainability in students. This purchase will allow the NSCC microplastic team to conduct novel research that has never been conducted by anyone in the world. This is cutting edge research looking for microplastic concentrations in the water column of fresh water systems.

In the future, other NSCC students in a variety of scientific disciplines will be able to utilize these Plankton nets equipped with flow meter to capture, observe, and quantify organisms and debris suspended in the water column. The information gathered from on-campus studies with flow meter-equipped plankton nets will contribute to NSCC's wetland restoration by providing data on wetland life and pollution. The geologic sieves can be used by geology students as well.


Line Items:

1– Flow Meter………………………….……..$370
1– Drift net……………………………………$350
1 -Custom net for manta frame……………..…$130
1- Cod-end jar and assembly……………………$80
2 – Geological Sieves………………………….$200"



What say you, team microplastics?

I think it sounds pretty good - short and to the point, clear representation of goals and equipment needed. I think we should add a plankton net assembly from General Oceanics, since it came with a bridle etc.

NSCC Microplastics

Hello Team Microplastics!

I've been wrestling with how to better coordinate our group. I think an open blog like this might be very useful for scheduling, posting progress reports/status reports on lab and field days, and compiling relevant papers/other media (like pictures). We can also use this as an informal lab/field notebook to keep one another informed.

In the vein of organization I'm also in favor of creating specific positions within our group. A group and project this large is going to require some specialization if we're to get anything done in a timely manner. I suggest that we designate someone to be in charge of;

- scheduling and running the lab end of sample processing (this includes ensuring there are at least two people to run a sample)

- someone responsible for maintaining lab standards(double checking lab notebook, addressing issues etc)and compiling data points (this one is a "numbers person" job, for someone who enjoys diligence :P)

- someone responsible for scheduling and running sample collections (this job could be split into open water vs. streams),

- someone responsible for compiling written documents (proposals, abstracts etc) and ensuring they're submitted on time.

The purpose of these positions would not be to pigeon-hole any one person into a single role, but rather to ensure all this shit gets done...so if you're scheduling and running sample processing its your job to badger people into showing up and doing it, if your job is making sure the proposals/abstracts/posters/whatever are written up and ready to go then its your job to badger people into contributing what you need to make sure they're on time, if its your job to maintain lab standards and compile data points (into graphs etc) its your job to badger people about sloppy notebook entries and ensure that graphs and figures in posters/papers are accurate and represent the data clearly...etc etc etc.

Anyway, thats my vision for the rest of our year - let me know what ya'll think.