Hosted by Rhode Island Sea Grant

Microplastics have become a defining pollutant of our time—now detected from polar ice cores to human bloodstreams. These fragments, fibers, and beads—smaller than five millimeters and often invisible to the naked eye—form as everyday plastics break down from bags, bottles, textiles, and tires.

Lightweight, durable, and nearly indestructible, they persist for decades, accumulating in rivers, estuaries, and oceans. Recent studies estimate that humans ingest tens of thousands of microplastic particles each year, while coastal ecosystems face mounting risks to food webs, water quality, and sediment health. Until recently, scientists lacked a clear understanding of how these pollutants travel through estuaries like Narragansett Bay, or where they tend to accumulate.

Researchers Sarah Davis, Ph.D. (University of Rhode Island) and Victoria Fulfer, Ph.D. (5 Gyres Institute) will share ongoing microplastics research and results from recent studies examining how and where microplastics accumulate in the waters and sediments of Narragansett Bay—and what that means for future studies on the impacts to coastal ecosystems.

Together, their work offers a comprehensive look at microplastics in Narragansett Bay, and implications for coastal ecosystems management.

This virtual event is free, but registration is required.