Record levels of plastic pollution found in Lake Erie

December 31, 2012

CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Water samples taken this summer from Lake Erie contained more plastic pollution than any oceanic sample on record, researchers said.

Sherri "Sam" Mason, a professor at the State University of New York at Fredonia who led the first-ever Great Lakes plastic pollution survey in July, found Lake Erie is teaming with plastic pieces.

Pollutants ranging from bottle caps to paint chips were found during the survey intended to provide data on plastics discarded in the lake. But plastic bits almost too small to see with the naked eye were most prevalent.

Story: