PennEnvironment's two-year citizen science project tested 22 sites across the Delaware River watershed in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, and Delaware. Researchers found microplastics at every location, including the Lehigh River near Lehighton. The study does not compare pollution levels between waterways or assess human health risks, and no state or federal standard exists for acceptable microplastic levels in rivers. Advocates are using the results to push for cuts to single-use plastics rather than telling people to avoid the water. The Delaware River Basin Commission and other researchers continue studying how flow, tides, and salinity move plastic particles through the estuary. For anyone tracking environmental quality in the region, this is a useful baseline even though it leaves questions about toxicity and cleanup unanswered.
