Plastic Pathways

Following Pollution Through Canada’s Wetlands

This summer, Environment and Climate Change Canada launched a new project to investigate microplastics in the wetlands of Creek 53. Led by Alex Jardine and Dr. Jennifer Provencher from the National Wildlife Research Centre, the team is collecting soil, water, frogs, and tadpoles to better understand how microplastic pollution moves through these delicate ecosystems.

Wetlands like Creek 53—with their dense vegetation and seasonal pools—can trap plastic debris. This pollution may reduce the overall health of the ecosystem or be ingested by local wildlife. That makes Creek 53 an ideal location to study the effects of this growing environmental issue.

Beyond this site, Dr. Provencher and her team are leading plastic pollution research across Canada. Their work spans Arctic regions, where they study pollution in ice, seawater, and even the ocean floor. But their research doesn’t stop at the poles—they’re also investigating lakes, wetlands, and other freshwater systems nationwide.

The Creek 53 project is part of a broader initiative that began in summer 2024, with data collection happening in provinces from Alberta to Nova Scotia. The team is tracking both the amount and types of plastics found, aiming to identify where plastics originate and where they accumulate. They’re also studying how plastic pollution affects frogs—especially by comparing tadpoles and adult frogs to see if plastics consumed early in life persist into adulthood.

This research will continue into the fall and resume next year, giving the team three full years of data to analyze. The findings from Creek 53 will contribute to a national understanding of microplastic pollution—and it’s exciting to see such impactful science happening right here in Hudson.