FREDONIA (AP) -- Plastic pollution in the Great Lakes will be the focus of a study this summer.

Led by the State University of New York at Fredonia, researchers will try to quantify the amount of plastic polluting the fresh water Great Lakes. They also want to raise awareness about the danger to aquatic animals, who can become entangled in or eat the plastic bags and water bottles they encounter.

Coordinator Sherri Mason, a Fredonia chemistry professor, has established a partnership with the 5 Gyres Institute for the July study. The institute is dedicated to raising awareness of plastic polluting the oceans. 

The survey will be funded by a $10,000 grant from the Cleveland, Ohio-based Burning River Foundation. 

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