Hurricane Helene deposited nearly one-fifth of annual microplastics at one North Carolina site
Rainfall from Hurricane Helene produced a short-term spike in microplastics at three sites in western North Carolina, with microplastic deposition three to 22 times higher than before the storm.
Hurricane Helene caused a significant spike in microplastic deposition at three sites in western North Carolina. The storm, which brought heavy rainfall, deposited microplastics at rates up to 22 times higher than before the event. This represented 4.2% to 18.8% of the annual microplastic deposition at these locations. Austin Gray, a biologist at Virginia Tech, explained that microplastics can come from distant sources and once deposited, can affect areas far from their origin.
This study is the first to assess microplastic deposition before, during, and after a hurricane in the U.S. The research highlights the need for better understanding and tracking of microplastics, especially in light of increasing storm intensity and frequency.
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