Coláiste Chú Chulainn student reveals impact of micro plastics on Louth's beaches

Lorcán Garvin, a Knockbridge resident and Coláiste Chú Chulainn student, presented his scientific study of micro plastics on Louth's beaches at the National Final of SciFest, last Friday 24 November at the Marino Conference Centre in Dublin.

SciFest is the largest, most inclusive all-island Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) fair programme for second-level students in Ireland. It promotes STEM education through the provision of a forum for students at local/regional/national level to present and display their scientific investigations.

Lorcán's project was entitled "Investigating the Amount of Microplastics in the Sand at Beaches Around Co. Louth" and was undertaken with the support of his teacher Deirdre Dunford.

Explaining his project, Lorcán said, "I started with a research question, How are Louth's beaches impacted by micro plastics? and went from there. 

"I gathered sand samples from six beaches in Louth, Blackrock, Clogherhead, Annaaassan, Termonfeckin, Lurganboy and Templetown. 

"Through a process called flocculation, I was able to examine the micro plastics under a lens. Micro plastics are particles smaller than five millimetres. They can cause health problems in humans and animals. They can be carcinogenic. Plastic does not disappear, it just gets smaller.

"My study concluded that Blackrock and Clogherhead, the beaches with the greatest human presence and activity, have the highest levels of micro plastics. Templeton has the lowest level."

Commenting on his performance at the National Final, Lorcán added, "I presented my research at SciFest in Dublin and got very good feedback.

"Going forward, I would like to examine ways to change human behaviour to minimise plastic pollution. I would also like to examine how the levels of plastic on beaches has entered animal life and the food chain."

This year marks the 18th year of the SciFest programme which saw students participating in local and regional SciFest STEM fairs across the country. Since launching in 2006, more than 100,000 students have participated in the competition, which represents an average year-on-year increase of almost 20% in participation.

Jack Shannon, a sixth year student from Clongowes Wood College was named SciFest STEM Champion 2023, for his project ‘Ireland’s Carbon Sinks – Remote Sensing for Monitoring Peatland Restoration’ and will go on to represent Ireland at the Regeneron International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, California next year.