Merrily we bring microplastics into the wilderness with our hiking shoes, study shows

Research comparing Adirondack mountain lakes in New York suggests foot traffic is significant source of pollution

Hiking shoes and outdoor gear are likely a significant source of microplastic pollution in the wilderness, new research that checked for the pernicious material in several Adirondack mountain lakes in upstate New York suggests.

Researchers measured microplastic levels in two lakes that are the among highest sources of water for the Hudson River – one that sees heavy foot traffic from hikers, and another lake that is far away from a path and rarely touched by human activity.