Outdoors

A million little pieces Research indicates high levels of microplastics in WNC waters

Western Carolina University student Connor Stamey collects stoneflies at Coweeta. The stoneflies will then be analyzed for microplastic content. Donated photo

BY HOLLY KAYS S TAFF WRITER Jason Love got interested in microplastics by way of mussels.

A wildlife biologist by education and training, he’d long been interested in the reasons behind the decline of Southern Appalachian mussel species, and in particular that of the federally endangered Appalachian elktoe. He was interested while working in his previous position as site manager for Coweeta Hydrologic Laboratory, and he’s interested now in his new position as associate director of the Highlands Biological Station.

“It used to have a stronghold in the Little Tennessee River, but beginning around 2004/2005 the populations just crashed, and they’re possibility extirpated from the Little Tennessee,” Love said. “That motivated me to understand what’s going on.”

In summer 2018, he had a few interns who needed a project to work on. Love saw that, while literature was starting to show that microplastics were showing up everywhere from the Arctic to the oceans, no research had yet been published examining the situation in Southeastern streams. So, with the students’ help, Love set about investigating the issue.

Because the decline in mussel populations had originally spurred his curiosity, Love wanted to look at microplastic concentrations within mussels living in Western North Carolina. He decided to use Asian clams, in invasive exotic now found throughout the United States, since he figured folks wouldn’t object too strenuously to specimens from that particular species being digested in hydrogen peroxide for the sake of science. The team collected samples from the Little Tennessee, the Tuckasegee River and Cartoogechaye Creek.

“We expected to find microplastics, particularly in the streams that had wastewater treatment plants, which is both the Little Tennessee and the Tuckasegee, but Cartoogechaye did not have a wastewater treatment plant,” said Love.

Wastewater treatment plants are great at getting rid of fecal matter, but they’re not designed to filter out microplastics, Love explained. Microfibers are a big contributor to the microplastics load coming from these plants — with every load of laundry, a little bit of fiber works its way out of the clothing and into the water, and many wastewater systems have difficulty capturing those materials.

So, microplastics in the samples taken near wastewater plants were expected. What Love did not expect to find, however, were high amounts of microplastics even in Cartoogechaye, which does not have a wastewater treatment plant.

Just below Lake Emory in Franklin, the team found about 5.8 microplastic particles per mussel, the most of any of the sampling locations. At Cartoogechaye, the average was about 3.8 particles per mussel.

When it’s broken down by gram, though, the ranking shifts. On a per-gram basis, Cartoogechaye had the highest levels of plastic, about 30 particles per gram compared to a low of about 1.7 on the Tuckasegee below Bryson City. Similar research examining the Yangtze River in China came out as Love was conducting his study, and it showed a range of 0.4 to 5.0 microplastics per gram — far fewer than what Love was finding in the Tuckasegee and Little Tennessee. However, it’s important to note

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that the clams in the Cartoogechaye were smaller, contributing to their higher pergram levels.

There are a few caveats to this finding, however. First of all, even filters that acted as controls for the study had some microplastics in them; about 1.7 fibers per sample — likely the result of contamination in the air — and the results are still preliminary and unpublished. The numbers Love has so far come from looking under a scope and counting the blue fibers, assuming they’re plastics. The next step is to run the samples through a spectrometer, which will confirm whether the materials are plastics and show what kind of plastics they are. However, he’s still trying to find the specialized equipment necessary to take this necessary next step.

Love also has questions about the mussels themselves. For instance, does a small juvenile mussel filter the same amount of water as an adult mussel, and how would the answer to that question impact the findings?

“There’s still a lot we don’t know,” he said.

However, Love isn’t the only person to have announced preliminary findings that show high levels of microplastics in the South.

In 2017, scientist Andreas Fath, a professor in Furtwangen University’s Faculty of Medical and Life Sciences in Germany, completed a 34-day, 652-mile swim of the Tennessee River to collect microplastics data. When he visited the Tennessee Aquarium in 2018, he reported that he’d found microplastic concentrations that were 8,000 percent higher than what he’d previously found in the Rhine River and that the levels were 80 percent higher than in China’s Yangtze River, according to a blog post from the aquarium.

That information came out just as Love was getting some initial results from his study.

“Right after we shared our results to colleagues at Coweeta and in the community, we were a little cautious,” said Love. “We were just very surprised by the results, but his (Fath’s) study found 16 particles per liter in the Tennessee River, which is the highest ever recorded in a freshwater system, so that made us feel a little better about our results.” Microplastics are an emerging issue that science has only just begun to understand. The term itself wasn’t coined until 2004. According to the National Ocean Service, microplastics are small plastic pieces that measure less than 5 millimeters long, and they can be harmful to aquatic life. However, we don’t yet know exactly how and at what threshold that harm occurs.

“We’re inhaling it, we’re ingesting it — it’s hard to know the effects if you have something that’s everywhere,” Love said. “People shouldn’t be panicking, but people should be concerned, and we as scientists need to start really looking at what those impacts could be.”

How do microplastics impact people, and at what threshold? What about wildlife, and how does that impact magnify as you move up the food chain? We know that microplastics can attract other toxins and bacteria to stick to their surface as they float through the water — how big of an issue are these clusters?

Love said this work has changed his attitude toward litter in general and plastic in particular.

“We need to start thinking about plastic not just as trash that’s unsightly, but as low-level toxic waste that needs to be dealt with,” he said.

Love is still finalizing his first round of research with the mussels, but he’s already working with students on additional research surrounding the microplastics issue. This time, they’re focusing on headwater streams, measuring microplastic concentrations based on water samples and predatory stoneflies. The results should indicate how much of the problem is due to local sources like litter and wastewater and how much is due to more difficult-to-trace sources, like atmospheric deposition.

“When you’re talking about the headwater streams, these are all forested watersheds, maybe 30 or 40 acres in size, so there is no on-ground source for microplastics,” he said. “If we’re finding them, the only explanation is they’re coming in from the atmosphere and being deposited and accumulating in the streams. But again, we don’t have any results, so this is just speculation that that’s likely where they would come from.”

Luckily, these kinds of questions seem to be gaining more traction in the scientific community. A microplastics workshop for researchers was scheduled for April 2-3 to help these scientists think big about the work that’s needed to better understand where the particles are coming from. However, like much else these days, the event was canceled due to the Coronavirus Pandemic. Sixty people were signed up for the workshop, said Love, revealing a growing interest in the topic.

“Science is trying to catch up,” said Love. Plastic fragments are easily visible when magnified to 30 times their actual size. Donated photo

The past week has seen multiple public parks and forests announce closures of outdoor areas in response to overcrowding deemed unsafe by land managers in light of coronavirus concerns.

On March 24, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park closed all of its roads and trails to visitation after a weekend in which more than 30,000 people visited the park daily, often converging on popular locations. Dupont State Recreation Forest followed suit following a similarly busy weekend. The Blue Ridge Parkway closed the southernmost portion of its length, and the National Forests in North Carolina announced closure of all OHV trails.

Outdoor recreation is a great way to get out of the house during quarantine time, but here are some rules of thumb to keep your day in the sunshine from causing the virus to spread or prompting more public lands closures. n Particularly if you’ve found yourself out of a job, it might be tempting to make hiking part of your daily routine, but try to dial back the frequency from what you’d prefer in order to avoid contributing to overcrowding. Try running or walking in your own neighborhood whenever possible. n Avoid areas you know to be popular and well known. If you arrive at a trailhead only to find that it’s full of cars, leave. Seek out a lesser-used area to enjoy the outdoors instead. n Enjoy the outdoors in small groups of just two or three people, and preferably limit the group to the people in your immediate household. n Maintain at least six feet of distance between yourself and others.

n If you feel sick — even a little bit — don’t go out. Stay home until you’re back to 100 percent. n Wash your hands with soap and water as soon as you get home, and bring hand sanitizer to use while you’re out, especially before eating. Avoid touching your face. n Don’t pet other visitors’ dogs or let other visitors pet your dog. n Services are reduced in many areas, so it’s more important than ever to practice “Leave No Trace” principles. Pack in all the food or equipment you’ll need for your outing, and pack it out when you leave, including any and all waste.

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Turkey season starts in April

The statewide turkey season will open April 11 through May 9, but a youth-only season will precede it April 4-10.

The daily limit is one turkey, with a season limit of two turkeys per hunter. Only one may be taken during youth season.

Youth season is open only to hunters younger than 18, but hunters ages 16 and 17 must be properly licensed. Hunters younger than 16 do not need a license but must be accompanied by a licensed adult. Youth who are properly licensed or have obtained a hunter education certificate do not need supervision.

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, hunter education classes have been canceled through April 30 but are available online. The N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission has voted to temporarily waive the field day requirement, so a hunter education card can be printed and a hunting license purchased upon completion of the online course at www.ncwildlife.org/huntered.

National forest closes recreation sites, trails All recreation sites in the National Forests in North Carolina — including the Pisgah and Nantahala — are now temporarily shut down. No end date has been announced for the policy.

The decision covers picnic pavilions, shooting ranges and all restrooms, including those at trailheads and other recreation sites.

Also shut down last week were off-highway vehicle trail systems. That closure will remain in effect through May 15 in order to reduce impact on emergency responders and limit the spread of COVID-19. This policy applies to the Brown Mountain OHV Area in the Pisgah National Forest, the Wayehutta OHV Area in the Nantahala National Forest, and areas of the Croatan and Uwharrie national forests.

Campgrounds, several large developed day use areas and visitor centers are also shut down to prevent the spread of COVID19. Nonmotorized travel and dispersed camping are still allowed, provided visitors follow social distancing guidelines. It’s important to follow these guidelines in order to prevent the need for further closures.

“We realize our communities and our visitors place high value on the recreation opportunities the Forest has to offer,” said Forest Supervisor Allen Nicholas. “A lot of discussion and consideration went into this decision.”

For a list of facilities on the National Forests in North Carolina that are temporarily shut down, visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/newsevents/?cid=FSEPRD715959.

Dupont closed due to COVID-19

Dupont State Recreation Forest and neighboring Holmes Educational State Forest closed March 24 in response to the COVID-19 crisis following a visitor-heavy weekend that made social distancing guidelines difficult to follow.

All trails, trailheads and forest facilities are closed until further notice. Parking

areas, both designated and roadside, are barricaded in the interest of public safety. The closure follows similar announcements in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park and Blue Ridge Parkway.

For updated information about public access to North Carolina State Forests during the COVID-19 pandemic, visit www.ncforestservice.gov/covid19.htm or follow NCFS on Facebook.

State recommends a temporary halt to debris burning

Citizens are asked to reconsider burning yard debris through the end of May, which historically marks the end of spring wildfire season in North Carolina. Most wildfires are caused by human action and careless debris burning, said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. During the COVID-19 crisis, minimizing the number of debris burns will also minimize the number of escaped fires, allowing first responders to limit close-contact interactions and maintain social distance.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the N.C. Forest Service continues mission critical work such as wildfire suppression and other emergency response functions.

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It’s farmers market time While COVID-19 has caused cancellations and closures aplenty, many area farmers markets will open as normal this spring. According to guidance from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, farmers markets fall under the same classification as grocery stores and are considered an important source of food for local communities.

Farmers markets that stay open during the outbreak should follow the same state and federal mandates as grocery stores regarding social distancing and crowd size. In keeping with Executive Order 118, they also may not offer any kind of dine-in service.

Here’s a roundup of the markets that have confirmed their intent to open. This list will be updated as more responses are received. MACON COUNTY Franklin Farmers Tailgate Market Getting there: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturdays during April, and then 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays May through the end of October, on East Palmer Street across from Drake Software. What’s happening: Variety of homegrown products, including fruits and vegetables, cheese, plants, eggs, trout, preserves, honey and artisan breads sold by an average of 25-30 vendors. Ways to pay: Cash/check. Contact: Christy Bredenkamp, 828.349.2049 or clbreden@ncsu.edu. www.facebook.com/franklinncfarmersmarket.

HAYWOOD COUNTY Haywood Historic Farmers Market, Waynesville Getting there: 8 a.m. to noon Saturdays, April 18 through Oct. 31, at 250 Pigeon Street in the parking lot of the HART Theatre. What’s happening: Local produce; meats, eggs, honey, dairy, value-added products, heritage crafts and more for sale by 50 vendors at the height of the season, all of whom produce their wares in Haywood or an adjacent county. Ways to pay: Credit and debit card, SNAP/EBT benefits, cash. Contact: haywoodfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Online at www.waynesvillefarmersmarket.com or www.facebook.com/haywoodhistoricfarmersmarket.

JACKSON COUNTY Jackson County Farmers Market, Sylva Getting there: Market held year-round at Bridge Park. Hours are: April to October, Saturdays, 9 a.m. to noon, and Wednesdays, 4 to 7 p.m.; November to March 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturdays only. What’s happening: A variety of locally produced vegetables, meats, honey, plants and crafts. Plant starts, native plants, mushrooms, greens and other in-season veggies, spices, eggs, baked goods, occasional brick-oven fired pizza, goat cheese, flowers and local crafts such as pottery, soaps, jewelry, journals, toys, candles, bird feeders, note cards and more for sale by 30-35 vendors. During the COVID-19 pandemic, vendors will be spaced further apart and customers moved through to avoid congregating. Tokens will be sanitized, a handwashing station will be available and a doctor will be on hand to assist and even take temperatures. Ways to pay: Cash, credit, debit and SNAP benefits accepted. Double Up Food Bucks for SNAP recipients available. Contact: Lisa McBride, 828.393.5236 or jacksoncountyfarmersmarket@gmail.com. Online at www.facebook.com/thegloriousjacksoncountyfarmersmarket, or www.jacksoncountyfarmersmarket.org.

SWAIN COUNTY Swain County Farmers Market, Bryson City Getting there: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Fridays May 1 through October 30, at the barn on Island Street in Bryson City. What’s happening: Local produce, nursery plants, herbs, trout, eggs, honey and artisan crafts such as jewelry, wood carvings and gourds sold by anywhere from eight to 15 vendors. Ways to pay: Cash/check. Contact: Rob Hawk, 828.488.3848 or rjhawk@ncsu.edu. www.facebook.com/swaincountyfarmersmarket.

BUNCOMBE COUNTY In response to the closure of some farmers markets in the midst of the COVID-19 crisis, the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project has organized an interim market designed to protect shoppers and vendors from virus transmission. The market meets 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays in parking lots A2, A3 and A7 at A-B Tech in Asheville. The number of shoppers in the market area at one time will be tightly controlled, customers will select pre-packaged items without handling other products, and purchases will be paid online using the honor system. Anybody exhibiting signs of illness will not be allowed in the market.

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SUDOKU

Here’s How It Works: Sudoku puzzles are formatted as a 9x9 grid, broken down into nine 3x3 boxes. To solve a sudoku, the numbers 1 through 9 must fill each row, column and box. Each number can appear only once in each row, column and box. You can figure out the order in which the numbers will appear by using the numeric clues already provided in the boxes. The more numbers you name, the easier it gets to solve the puzzle! Answers on 27

OUT OF THE ORDINARY ACROSS 1 It may begin "Here lies ..." 8 Like fables with morals 15 Sprayed like a firefighter 20 Composer Saint-Saëns 21 Maui tourist town 22 Wash away 23 Like overly harsh punishment 25 Consolidate 26 Suffix with prophet 27 Calc prereq 28 Hosiery hitch 30 Transmission option 31 Coil of yarn 33 1985 hit for Sheila E. 37 Female graduates 40 Middle: Abbr. 41 Cello bow rub-on 42 Monkey of kid-lit 46 Upholstered footstool 50 Country singer Travis 51 Inits. on a navy vessel 52 Neighbor of Ger. 54 Apple pie - mode 55 Just makes, with "out" 56 1965 Marvin Gaye hit 63 Dial-up alternative, for short 64 Fall away 65 Cube inventor Rubik 66 Feeble 67 Noncircular paths around bodies 72 Homeland, affectionately 75 Big name in dog food 76 108-card game 77 Toque or fez 80 1967 hit for the Doors 85 Infrequent 86 "Star Trek" rank: Abbr. 87 Pilfer from 88 Singer Yoko 89 Leaks slowly 90 To no extent 94 Mismatched collection 99 Knife of old infomercials 101 - Kippur 102 Stream of electrons 103 Witches in "Macbeth" 107 Cantaloupe or honeydew 108 Body gel additive 109 "There's - haven't heard!" 110 - prayer for 111 Univ. Web site suffix 114 Beach hills 116 "77 Sunset Strip" actor, familiarly 122 Mrs. Bunker 123 Use an umbrella, say 124 Posts again 125 Hunter's lure 126 Fusible alloys 127 Bad-mouth

DOWN 1 "Lo!," to Livy 2 Golf norms 3 Don of radio 4 Deadlock 5 100% 6 Tableland 7 Units of inductance 8 Chug- - (guzzle) 9 Suffix with Caesar 10 Mu - pork 11 Western treaty inits. 12 Pope before Gregory XIII

ANSWERS ON PAGE 27 13 More nonsensical 14 Prison, informally 15 - and haw 16 Pizza herb 17 More irritated 18 Rocker Winter 19 Plow pioneer 24 Noisy clamor 29 Basic idea 31 Actor Jimmy 32 Granny, e.g. 33 At - of (priced at) 34 Item in a P.O. box 35 Part of NATO: Abbr. 36 Acne spot 37 Performed on stage 38 Lies in wait 39 Apocryphal archangel 43 With 115-Down, nervous and apprehensive 44 Part of i.e. 45 "... wife could - lean" 47 Injure badly 48 Jai - 49 DEA agent 53 "Shape - ship out!" 56 Alphabet opener 57 "May - of service?" 58 Burglar's job 59 Missile's path 60 "Deathtrap" star Michael 61 "For - us a child is born" 62 Guitarist Paul 64 "Green" sci. 67 Sci-fi power 68 Robert De - 69 1990s exercise fad 70 Bldg. units 71 Virus, e.g. 72 Not closed 73 Jay of NBC 74 Biblical verb 77 Belittling frat brother 78 Circus venue 79 Touchy 81 Bohemianism 82 Meanders 83 Question's opp. 84 Turndowns 85 Like Brutus 89 Prince - von Bismarck 91 Go along with 92 Christie's cry 93 - many words 95 Coloring stuff 96 Caméra - 97 Ones toeing the line 98 Tag anew 100 In the habit of 103 Crossed a ford 104 Get by 105 Like a charged atom 106 Cyclical, at the beach 107 - tai (drink) 110 "The - the limit!" 111 Markey of Tarzan films 112 Nixing mark 113 Stalin's land 115 See 43-Down 117 English dramatist Thomas 118 Lyrical verse 119 Bruin Bobby 120 Peru's Sumac 121 Campaigned

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