Microplastics Are All Over, Alaska Study Shows – In Varying Degrees

Paxson Lake, Castner Creek To The

North Of The Copper River Valley...

And Worthington, Lowe River & Blueberry

To The South...

 

Have "Lower" Microplastic

Contamination Than Some Other Spots 

Entrance to Paxson Lake. May, 2020. (Photo by Copper River Country Journal) 

A study of water sources that are contaminated with "microplastics" in rural Alaska has been conducted. And the results are surprising.

Scientists tested water and snow for tiny particles of plastic. The study was conducted by UAF, and gathered 74 samples.

The biggest concentrations of plastic were from the UAF campus, Turnagain Pass and Utqiagvik, the scientists reported.

The studies included the Kahiltna Glacier in Denali. Overall, it showed that microplastics are everywhere – even across the wilds of Alaska, which has a very low population, and almost no industry. 

Paxson Lake, June 2023 (Photo by Copper River Country Journal) 

Near the Copper Valley – both north and south of the region – the samples were said to have "lower" plastic concentrations than in many other locations. 

To the south, on the Richardson, that included the Lowe River near Valdez, Blueberry Lake and and Worthington Glacier on the Richardson high in Thompson Pass.

Worthington Glacier, May 2011 (Photo by Copper River Country Journal) 

To the north of the Copper Valley, samples for microplastics that also were considered "low" included samplings taken from Paxson Lake and Castner Creek.