From backpacks and apparel to shoes and trekking poles — lots of outdoor gear has become lighter and more durable in recent years. But those advancements are often the result of synthetic materials, which can break down into microplastics that impact the health of both humans and the environment.
New research suggests that this harmful pollution is increasingly finding its way into even the most remote natural areas.
That’s the conclusion of researchers who measured the amount of microplastics in two New York lakes, both of them among the highest-elevation water sources for the Hudson River. One of the bodies of water (Lake Tear) sees frequent foot traffic from hikers, while the other (Moss Pond) is more remote.
Lake Tear contained 23 times the level of microplastics found in Moss Pond, according to samples gathered this year and published in a study last month.
That suggests that outdoor gear worn by hikers — especially soft-soled shoes and synthetic apparel — are the primary culprits of increased microplastics in this area, according to researchers.
While that may be disconcerting for those of us who love our Hoka trail runners and Arc’teryx apparel, there are ways to enjoy the backcountry and still use (some of) our favorite outdoor gear.
A Study of Two Lakes
Initially, researchers believed that increased microplastic pollution in the New York lakes would come from “airborne deposition,” or rainfall. In recent years, other research has determined that microplastics have become so ubiquitous in the environment that they can be carried through rain and snow.
But that’s not the case this time.
The huge difference in pollution levels between the two lakes suggests that direct human interference (hikers) is the most likely culprit for increased pollution. The study was a partnership between nonprofit Adirondack Hamlet to Huts and Evergreen Business Analytics, a company owned by Tim Keyes, a Sacred Heart University data scientist.
“It’s a pretty clear indication given the stark difference in microplastic levels between the sister body of water that’s a bushwhack away compared to Lake Tear, which is on this thoroughfare for hikers that sees tens of thousands of people annually,” Keyes told The Guardian.
Researchers said the study highlights the importance of why the outdoor industry must produce apparel and footwear that sheds fewer microplastics. Many individual retailers have taken actions to reduce the environmental footprint of their products, but the U.S. government has few regulations regarding microplastics.
So, what can we hikers do about this? According to researchers, the main takeaway for hikers is to be more conscious about the gear they take into the backcountry.
They suggest hikers consider using shoes with hard rubber soles, which release less plastic than soft soles. They also suggest wearing synthetic apparel underneath clothing made from natural fibers.
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