IJC Report co-led by Rebecca Rooney calls for coordinated monitoring of Great Lakes microplastics

Microplastics are pervasive throughout the Great Lakes, yet no basin-wide approach exists to systematically track their presence and impact. A new report from the International Joint Commission (IJC)’s Great Lakes Science Advisory Board Work Group on Microplastics calls for regional coordination to systematically measure Great Lakes microplastics.

Water Institute member Rebecca Rooney, professor of biology and Canadian co-chair of the Science Advisory Board’s Research Coordination Committee, was one of the reports’ primary authors. The report offers an evidence-based framework for incorporating microplastics as an indicator of Great Lakes health while also providing standardized sampling protocols and a structured risk assessment model to identify when and where pollution management actions are needed.

Water Institute member Rebecca Rooney, professor of biology and Canadian co-chair of the Science Advisory Board’s Research Coordination Committee

“Plastic is a part of modern life and pervasive throughout the Great Lakes ecosystem,” Rooney said in a recent IJC press release. “Yet, the monitoring and reporting on microplastics is largely project-based. The board offers actionable tools to help the Canadian and US governments take a common and routine approach to monitoring microplastics.”

The report recommends that microplastics be designated a ‘Chemical of Mutual Concern’ under the Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement, which would trigger coordinated action by Canadian and U.S. authorities for managing microplastics. It also proposes using microplastics as an indicator of ecosystem health, similar to metrics used for nutrient pollution or invasive species.

To engage the public and scientific community in this conversation, the IJC is hosting a free, one-hour webinar on February 12 at 1 p.m. ET. Experts from the work group will present the report’s findings and answer questions from attendees. Registration is required and can be completed at bit.ly/SAB-MICRO.

The full report, along with an infographic summarizing its key recommendations, is available on the IJC’s website here.

As plastic pollution continues to threaten freshwater ecosystems, the IJC report provides a structured approach to systematically monitoring and managing microplastics in the Great Lakes. Researchers like Rooney hope its recommendations will guide policy decisions that lead to measurable improvements in water quality.

IJC Report Infographic
Images courtesy of Rebecca Rooney.