Due to the Covid 19 outbreak the annual Tech Showcase was cancelled. This offers Industry an alternative to see what my applied research project entailed.

1. Quantification and Analysis of Microplastic Pollution From McNabs Island and Lake Banook Beaches
Sample Collection Density Separation Sample Analysis Sample Identification
Banook Canoe Club
Maugers Beach
Mic Mac Aquatic Center
Quick Facts
• Nova Scotia has over 7000km of
coastline 2300 hectors of which is
sandy beach.
• Little data regarding the extent of
microplastic pollution currently
exists in much of the province.
• In Nova Scotia no standardized
methods of collection and analysis
have been established.
• The global demand for plastics
have been steadily increasing.
• Microplastics are defined as
plastic particles less than 5mm in
size.
• Microplastics are known to
concentrate toxic pollutants
including DDT and PCBs.
• A wide range of marine life has
now been found to ingest
microplastic particles.
• Waterfowl can die after ingesting
just 7 grams of microplastics.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Mic Mac
Maugers
Banook
Amount of Microplastic Particles (per m2)
T1 T2 T3
Methodology
3.57%
9.18%
53.57%
15.31%
18.37%
Type of Microplastic
Nurdle Fiber Fragment Foam Film

2. Quantification and Analysis of Microplastic Pollution From McNabs Island and Lake Banook Beaches
Sample Collection Density Separation Sample Analysis Sample Identification
Banook Canoe Club
Maugers Beach
Mic Mac Aquatic Center
Quick Facts
• Nova Scotia has over 7000km of
coastline 2300 hectors of which is
sandy beach.
• Little data regarding the extent of
microplastic pollution currently
exists in much of the province.
• In Nova Scotia no standardized
methods of collection and analysis
have been established.
• The global demand for plastics
have been steadily increasing.
• Microplastics are defined as
plastic particles less than 5mm in
size.
• Microplastics are known to
concentrate toxic pollutants
including DDT and PCBs.
• A wide range of marine life has
now been found to ingest
microplastic particles.
• Waterfowl can die after ingesting
just 7 grams of microplastics.
0 10 20 30 40 50
Mic Mac
Maugers
Banook
Amount of Microplastic Particles (per m2)
T1 T2 T3
Methodology
3.57%
9.18%
53.57%
15.31%
18.37%
Type of Microplastic
Nurdle Fiber Fragment Foam Film

4. Did you know that 10 – 20 million tons
of plastic end up in our oceans every
year!

8. Did you know the smallest
particle the human eye can see
is about 40 microns and
microplastics can be less than
25 microns.

10. REFERENCES
Fauna and Flora International. (2019, 04 27). Microplastic Pollution Confirmed to be a threat to Biodiversity.
Retrieved from fauna-flora.org: https://www.fauna-flora.org/news/microplastic-pollution-confirmed-to-be-a-
threat-to-marine-biodiversity
Government of Canada. (2019, 04 27). Importance of Biodiversity. Retrieved from canada.ca:
https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/biodiversity.html
National Ocean Service. (2019,08 28). What Are Microplastics? Retrieved from noaa.gov:
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html
Sea Turtles Forever. (2019, 04 27). Microplastics. Retrieved from Sea Turtles Forever:
https://www.seaturtlesforever.org/programs/marine-plastic-debris/
Sloactive. (2020, 03 03). Plastic Pollution. Retrieved from Sloactive: https://sloactive.com/plastic-pollution/
Leahy, S. (2020, 03 03). EnvironmentPlanet or Plastic? Retrieved from National Geographic:
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/2019/04/microplastics-pollution-falls-from-air-even-
mountains/#close