Investigating Microplastic Pollution and Exposure Risk in Urban Children’s Play Spaces

1. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Microplastics are ubiquitous in urban environments; however, the extent of microplastic contamination in children’s playgrounds has not been evaluated before. Playgrounds are often composed of plastic polymer materials which can break down into microplastics over time due to UV exposure and mechanical abrasion from usage. Therefore, playgrounds can become hotspots of microplastic contamination over time. Our project aimed to evaluate the extent of this contamination by collecting environmental samples and analyzing factors that can increase microplastic pollution. We trained and mentored four undergraduate students to assist us with completing this project with the ultimate goal of publishing a peer-reviewed paper and hosting a seminar on elevated microplastic exposure in children’s playgrounds in urban areas at UCLA cGSA’s Student Lunch & Learn.

2. IMPORTANCE

The importance of this project cannot be underestimated because children- who are the main users of playgrounds- are one of the most vulnerable populations. Historically, vulnerable populations are most susceptible to pollution inhalation, including the inhalation of microplastics. Additionally, populations with low socioeconomic status, which usually live in higher population density areas, have been disproportionately vulnerable to environmental contamination by various pollutants. This study aims to investigate if the locations of the playgrounds- selected based on socioeconomic status- impact microplastic contamination levels which have important environmental justice repercussions. The results will allow us to better understand the risk that microplastic contamination has on children, especially those who are already disadvantaged.

3. IMPACT AND REACH

Our study is the first-ever study to document elevated microplastic contamination inside children’s playgrounds in urban areas. This study also provides the first evidence that plastic structures and plastic toys that kids play with do, in fact, break down into microplastics and can increase the inhalation risk of microplastics. The results produced by this research study can serve as the basis for inhalation risk assessments performed in local communities and playgrounds, and indicate that microplastics- and the contaminants on them- are a prominent contaminant threatening the health of vulnerable populations. Our confirmation of a significant measurable risk of microplastic exposure will increase the urgency with which we address plastic pollution and also its priority in global conversations/investments into environmental resources’ integrity.

Our deliverables include a manuscript submitted to Science of The Total Environment in May 2022 (currently under review) as “Elevated microplastic exposure to children in urban playgrounds: Dominant deposition pathways and population density effect”. STOTEN is an international multi-disciplinary journal for the publication of novel, high-impact research with a high impact factor of 7.9. This submission choice is strategic to reach a wider audience as disseminating these results to a highly read journal will increase awareness of plastic pollution and its impact. Coupling cutting-edge scientific research with public engagement is key to broadening the impact of science, and we have made every effort to do so.

4. COLLABORATIONS

While we didn’t have a client, per se, we did have a host of collaborators who helped bring this project to life. My main collaborator was fellow PhD candidate Jamie Leonard, who co-led this project. Our collaborators included: Dr. Sanjay Mohanty, Dr. Win Cowger and the Moore Institute for Plastic Pollution Research, and a team of 4 UCLA undergraduates. Dr. Sanjay Mohanty is an Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department at UCLA. He advises both myself, as well as my collaborator Jamie for our Ph.D. studies, had extensive experience in microplastics research, and was a helpful and guiding voice for this project. To complete the project we mentored a multidisciplinary team of UCLA undergraduate students in our laboratory. These students were already passionate about sustainability and environmental equity, and had the opportunity to conduct real scientific research, analyze results, and overall learn about environmental microplastic contamination. Lastly, we collaborated with Dr. Win Cowger at the Charles Moore Institute of Plastic Pollution, who trained us in using Fourier-transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR)- a critical instrument for confirming and characterizing the plastic pollution found on playgrounds. His guidance was critical to our success.

5. YOUR ROLE WELL DEFINED

During my PhD, I have worked on microplastics research and in the past, I have completed both lab and field studies on microplastics in green infrastructure. However, for my leadership project, I decided to use my microplastics expertise and bring it to the important, overlooked topic of microplastics in children’s playgrounds. I came up with the idea of surveying children’s playgrounds and assessing the pollution based on the locations, which while not part of my thesis research, I found highly compelling. My contributions included: identifying desirable playgrounds to sample; developing sampling protocols and collecting samples; mentoring undergraduate and teached them to process soil and sand samples in lab to quantify microplastic concentrations; graphing concentration results with R for publication of the data; drafting the manuscript that is now submitted; and interviewing, assembling, and mentoring the team of interested undergraduate students.

6. OPTIONAL NEXT STEPS

While this project has already resulted in a full publication- and thus is essentially completed- our team of highly trained and motivated undergrads will continue to work with Dr. Sanjay Mohanty and fellow PhD candidate, Jamie Leonard on microplastic research after I graduate this year.