Microplastic pollution is an urgent issue, but we do not fully understand the physical mechanisms by which microplastics are transported in the environment. This is a complex problem: waterborne microplastics are quickly fouled by living organisms, which affects their mass distribution, settling velocity, and other physical properties, which in turn have strong effects on long-term transport. We propose an interdisciplinary study of how the presence and character of biofilms on microplastics can affect their movement in environmental flows. This project will create a new collaboration, lay the groundwork to establish Penn State as a leader in an area of increasing concern, and provide preliminary data to leverage into larger opportunities, aligning with funding trends.
