16 From Thin Section to Outcrop: Exploration of Undergraduate Research (Posters)
This session is designed to showcase undergraduate research across all disciplines. All submissions should be written by the student(s) and include a faculty co-author. Categories: Cross-Disciplinary, all topics welcome
Sunday, 22 March 2026
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
CCC, Ballroom C
Microplastic Pollution in the Chesapeake Bay: Extraction, Identification, and Environmental Impact
Paper number: 16-23
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 1:30 PM – 1:30 PM
Authors
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Tish Cichon Presenting AuthorWest Chester University , White (Not of Hispanic Origin), Pennsylvania
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Naomi GrovesWest Chester University, West Chester, PA
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Sadie LevipriceWest Chester University, West Chester, PA
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Russell LoscoWest Chester , West Chester, PA
Abstract
Microplastics are an increasingly recognized pollutant in the Chesapeake Bay ecosystems, yet much remains unknown about their abundance, distribution, and environmental implications. The Chesapeake Bay receives plastic inputs from urban runoff, wastewater, and river systems, making it a key location for examining microplastic accumulation. This study investigates the concentrations and characteristics of microplastics in Chesapeake Bay sediment samples to gain a deeper understanding of their distribution in aquatic sediments. In this study, sediment samples were processed to isolate and identify microplastics. Samples were subjected to density separations, followed by filtration and microplastic analysis. The results show that different types of microplastics are present in the Chesapeake Bay sediments, and the accumulation of microplastics in the sediment affects the structure and health of the surrounding ecosystem.
Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 58, No. 2
doi: 10.1130/abs/2026NE-411422
© Copyright 2026 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.