Microplastic fibers found in the exhaled breath of dolphins, according to measurements taken from the blowholes of dolphins in Sarasota Bay in Florida and Barataria Bay in Louisiana

Microplastics are found everywhere, but that is not a reason to give up. Carcinogens are found in most humans, but their affects increase as cumulative exposure increases. 

If we want to reduce the concentration of microplastics in dolphins, we need to limit bioaccumulation (i.e. microplastics in their food source). That means limiting plastics which get into the ocean and break down into microplastics, and limiting microplastics in stormwater runoff. 

Florida is a tricky state for stormwater management due to the high water table. The state is so flat and the water table is so high that we really need effective point source control of plastic. For non-point-source control, drive runoff to vegetated catchment systems. This could be roadside ditches, swales, and detention ponds. Since studies have shown that 80% of microplastics are removed when channeled to vegetated best management practices (BMPs), increasing the functionality and frequency of these systems is useful for keeping them out of the ocean. 

Activities like dredging and re-grading facilities when they’re full, ensuring that culverts aren’t clogged so that these systems aren’t bypassed in major storm events, and modifying our supply chain to limit factors like tire breakdown and plastic litter will all keep microplastic levels lower cumulatively in dolphins’ food sources.