The study of plastic pollution started in the world's oceans, most famously focused on what has been called the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch." Despite a United Nations’ report suggesting that 80% of this oceanic debris came from land, very little research has focused upon freshwater systems even though they act as conduits from land to sea. Our research group was among the first to study plastic pollution within freshwater systems. Our work started within the largest freshwater ecosystem in the world: the Laurentian Great Lakes of North America. It has evolved into numerous other related studies. Most recently our work captured international attention with our studies showing the pervasiveness of microplastics within basic human consumables: tap water, beer, sea salt and bottled water. Dr. Mason will present an overview of plastic and its emergence as one of the most prominent environmental pollutants, focusing especially within our own Great Lakes.

About the speaker

Dr. Sherri (“Sam”) A. Mason is a professor of chemistry and sustainability coordinator at Penn State Behrend located in Erie, PA. She was a faculty member at the State University of New York Fredonia from 2001 to 2018 where she was also chair of the Department of Geology and Environmental Sciences from 2016 to 2018. Dr. Mason has a B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Texas at Austin and a Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the University of Montana as a NASA Earth System Science scholar. Dr. Mason’s research was among the first to study the prevalence and impact of plastic pollution within freshwater ecosystems, most notably the Laurentian Great Lakes.  Her research formed the basis for the Microbeads-Free Water Act, which was signed into law by President Obama in December 2015. She has also been awarded EPA Environmental Champion in 2016, Excellence in Environmental Research by the Earth Month Network in 2017, and the Heinz Award in Public Policy in 2018.