Large seasonal variation in microplastic concentration from the Truckee River, United States

Using a field deployable peristaltic pump, we collected samples for MP concentration analysis along the Truckee River in the western United States. Samples were collected during the fall of 2022 and the spring of 2023 across 6 and 8 sites, respectively. The samples were processed and analyzed with microscope‑enabled Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy. This dataset includes the resulting FTIR results.
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Field methods
Fourteen total samples (6 sites in fall, 8 sites in spring) were collected along the Truckee River and analyzed for MP concentration. Additional site descriptions are provided in the supplement. The fall of 2022 was the first sampling period and was characterized by low flows in the Truckee River. Sampling dates were selected based on weather and field conditions to allow for safe sampling, and samples were not collected at all sites for each season. Coordination with the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe allowed for sampling to be conducted on the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Reservation.
Sample volumes ranged from 49 to 65 L of Truckee River water, using the method described by Harrold et al. (2022). The sample was taken from the top 3 cm of the water using a steel funnel (4 cm in diameter) connected to silicone tubing (5 m in length) powered by a battery-operated peristaltic pump (SERIES II Geopump, Geotech, Colorado, United States). Sample sites were chosen to be consistent acro..., # Large seasonal variation in microplastic concentration from the Truckee River, United States

Dataset DOI: [10.5061/dryad.66t1g1kg4](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.66t1g1kg4)

## Description of the data and file structure

### Files and variables

#### File: Filter_info.csv

**Description:** Information for each filter analyzed.

##### Variables

* Site Number: site number filter was collected at
* Site Name: site name filter was collected at
* Date Visited: Date filter was collected
* Oxidation (10% Hydrogen Peroxide): Did the filter undergo oxidation with 10 % hydrogen peroxide? Yes or No
* Density Separation (Sodium Bromide): Did the filter undergo density separation with sodium bromide? Yes or No
* Percent of particles analyzed by FTIR (%): Percentage of particles analyzed by FTIR
* Notes: Additional notes

#### File: Top_Matches_Truckee_9b_Mustang_Apr2423_100umSF_derivative_T0.7_results.csv

**Description:** FTIR results from Truckee river site 9 collected April 24 2023, filter #2..., ,