Dr. Sherri A. Mason holds a doctorate in chemistry from the University of Montana and is a leading researcher in freshwater plastic pollution. Her award-winning work has drawn international attention to the threats posed by microplastics and led to the passage of national measures banning microbeads. She currently serves as Director of Sustainability at Penn State Erie, The Behrend College.
In the News
Research Keywords
These keywords and phrases come from the publications and other research output of this person. See other researchers related to these topics by clicking on any keyword.
Recent Publications
Current State of Microplastic Pollution Research Data: Trends in Availability and Sources of Open Data
Jenkins, T., Persaud, B. D., Cowger, W., Szigeti, K., Roche, D. G., Clary, E., Slowinski, S., Lei, B., Abeynayaka, A., Nyadjro, E. S., Maes, T., Thornton Hampton, L., Bergmann, M., Aherne, J., Mason, S. A., Honek, J. F., Rezanezhad, F., Lusher, A. L., Booth, A. M. & Smith, R. D. L. & 1 others, , Jun 30 2022, In: Frontiers in Environmental Science. 10, 912107.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Distribution, abundance and spatial variability of microplastic pollution on the surface of Lake Superior
Cox, K., Brocious, E., Courtenay, S. C., Vinson, M. R. & Mason, S. A., Oct 2021, In: Journal of Great Lakes Research. 47, 5, p. 1358-1364 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Global meta-analysis of microplastic contamination in reservoirs with a novel framework
Guo, Z., Boeing, W. J., Xu, Y., Borgomeo, E., Mason, S. A. & Zhu, Y. G., Dec 1 2021, In: Water Research. 207, 117828.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Spatial Distribution of Microplastics in Surficial Benthic Sediment of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie
Lenaker, P. L., Corsi, S. R. & Mason, S. A., Jan 5 2021, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 55, 1, p. 373-384 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
High levels of pelagic plastic pollution within the surface waters of Lakes Erie and Ontario
Mason, S. A., Daily, J., Aleid, G., Ricotta, R., Smith, M., Donnelly, K., Knauff, R., Edwards, W. & Hoffman, M. J., Apr 2020, In: Journal of Great Lakes Research. 46, 2, p. 277-288 12 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Vertical Distribution of Microplastics in the Water Column and Surficial Sediment from the Milwaukee River Basin to Lake Michigan
Lenaker, P. L., Baldwin, A. K., Corsi, S. R., Mason, S. A., Reneau, P. C. & Scott, J. W., Nov 5 2019, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 53, 21, p. 12227-12237 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Anthropogenic contamination of tap water, beer, and sea salt
Kosuth, M., Mason, S. A. & Wattenberg, E. V., Apr 2018, In: PloS one. 13, 4, e0194970.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Synthetic Polymer Contamination in Bottled Water
Mason, S. A., Welch, V. G. & Neratko, J., Sep 11 2018, In: Frontiers in Chemistry. 6, 407.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Microplastic in riverine fish is connected to species traits
McNeish, R. E., Kim, L. H., Barrett, H. A., Mason, S. A., Kelly, J. J. & Hoellein, T. J., Dec 1 2018, In: Scientific reports. 8, 1, 11639.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Determination of the gut retention of plastic microbeads and microfibers in goldfish (Carassius auratus)
Grigorakis, S., Mason, S. A. & Drouillard, K. G., Feb 1 2017, In: Chemosphere. 169, p. 233-238 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
The occurrence of microplastic contamination in littoral sediments of the Persian Gulf, Iran
Naji, A., Esmaili, Z., Mason, S. A. & Dick Vethaak, A., Sep 1 2017, In: Environmental Science and Pollution Research. 24, 25, p. 20459-20468 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Plastic Debris in 29 Great Lakes Tributaries: Relations to Watershed Attributes and Hydrology
Baldwin, A. K., Corsi, S. R. & Mason, S. A., Oct 4 2016, In: Environmental Science and Technology. 50, 19, p. 10377-10385 9 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Microplastic pollution is widely detected in US municipal wastewater treatment plant effluent
Mason, S. A., Garneau, D., Sutton, R., Chu, Y., Ehmann, K., Barnes, J., Fink, P., Papazissimos, D. & Rogers, D. L., Nov 1 2016, In: Environmental Pollution. 218, p. 1045-1054 10 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Pelagic plastic pollution within the surface waters of Lake Michigan, USA
Mason, S. A., Kammin, L., Eriksen, M., Aleid, G., Wilson, S., Box, C., Williamson, N. & Riley, A., Aug 1 2016, In: Journal of Great Lakes Research. 42, 4, p. 753-759 7 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
Microplastic contamination in the San Francisco Bay, California, USA
Sutton, R., Mason, S. A., Stanek, S. K., Willis-Norton, E., Wren, I. F. & Box, C., Aug 15 2016, In: Marine pollution bulletin. 109, 1, p. 230-235 6 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review