Indigenous Microplastics Research Project

This project represents a significant advancement in microplastics research by redefining how atmospheric plastic pollution is studied, understood, and governed.

First, the project is Indigenous-led, shifting scientific authority from institution-centered research to community-centered stewardship. This leadership model changes not only who conducts the research, but also how sites are selected, how data are interpreted, and how long monitoring persists, resulting in more grounded and durable science.

 Second, by focusing exclusively on rain and snow, the project isolates wet deposition as a direct exposure pathway, rather than combining it with dry atmospheric fallout. This distinction elevates the relevance of the data for human and ecological exposure, drinking water, snowmelt, and food systems. 

 Third, the project’s geographic scope is unprecedented. Sampling across diverse climate regions and Indigenous lands enables comparison of atmospheric transport across coastal, interior, island, desert, and snow-dominated systems, providing insight into regional and long-range movement of microplastics. 

Fourth, the project is designed for repeatability and long-term continuity, rather than short-term monitoring. Community-based sampling infrastructure allows seasonal and interannual trends to be captured, transforming the work from a single study into a sustained environmental dataset.

Fifth, the project integrates Indigenous knowledge systems with empirical environmental measurement, allowing traditional ecological knowledge to inform site selection, seasonal context, and interpretation. This integration enhances scientific understanding by adding place-based insight that atmospheric models alone cannot provide.

Sixth, the project directly supports policy and health-relevant science by generating upstream evidence of microplastic exposure pathways. The data inform exposure assessment, environmental justice discussions, and preventative approaches to plastic pollution, without overextending into unproven health claims.