Four years ago, Professor of Earth, Environmental and Planetary Sciences Baylor Fox-Kemper helped submit a proposal to the National Science Foundation to study microplastics in Rhode Island waters. Earlier this year, the proposal was finally accepted.
Now, Fox-Kemper is leading Brown’s contributions to SIMCoast, a $7 million research project involving four Rhode Island universities: Brown, Rhode Island College, the University of Rhode Island and Roger Williams University.
The aim of SIMCoast is to understand how microplastics travel through bodies of water and “to better design detection techniques,” Fox-Kemper told The Herald. To achieve this goal, Fox-Kemper and his team have started taking water surveys across Narragansett Bay and the rest of Rhode Island.
Each academic institution involved with SIMCoast will contribute something different to SIMCoast, Fox-Kemper said.
Brown’s side of the project centers on developing a model that can “advance understanding of the transport of nano- and microplastics as well as their fate,” Assistant Professor of Earth, Environmental, and Planetary Sciences and Applied Mathematics Mara Freilich ’15 wrote in an email to The Herald.
Quantifying microplastics is difficult because scientists “don’t fully understand” these particles yet, Fox-Kemper said.
Even when researchers find microplastics in water, it is “hard to unwind that clock” and reverse contamination, Fox-Kemper said. SIMCoast will study mechanisms to avoid that spillage in the first place by addressing major sources of microplastics in Rhode Island, he added.
These plastics come from various sources, such as bottles, fishing tackle and textile manufacturing, Fox-Kemper explained. Although sewer systems are equipped to filter bacteria, microplastics often travel through the filters unharmed.
“A fleece jacket, when it’s made … will shed little, small pieces of plastic,” Fox-Kemper said. “But also, every time you wash it in the laundry machine, small pieces of plastic will break off and then end up in the water supply.”
In his own research, Fox-Kemper studies, models and observes ocean physics and currents. In the past decade, he has expanded his research to include examining how nano- and microplastics infiltrate the ocean.
Fox-Kemper developed this focus after studying oil spills — an interest sparked by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. After his initial research, Fox-Kemper questioned whether plastics and oil spread in similar ways. Now, he’s looking to apply his experience to understanding pollution in Narragansett Bay with SIMCoast.
Freilich wrote that she appreciates the collaborative experience of SIMCoast.
“It’s a fantastic way to do interdisciplinary work and learn from others,” Freilich wrote. “SIMCoast is also exciting because it has direct connections with non-profit, industry and government partners throughout the research to increase the impact.”
Beyond partnering with other academic institutions, Fox-Kemper noted the importance of collaborating with local industry and environmental organizations with a shared goal of cleaner water.
Looking forward to using the models he and his team will build to study microplastics, Fox-Kemper is “optimistic that (they) can make an impact on this problem.”
“I’m excited that we might be able to actually really change the conversations among people who are worried about plastics in the environment and companies that may be producing plastics that end up in the environment,” Fox-Kemper said.
