plastics-researcher-penn-state-1920×1264 Published November 4, 2019 at 1920 × 1264 in Most Plastics Break Down Into Tiny Pieces Before They Reach The Great Lakes. This PA Researcher Studies Them Before They Degrade Julie Grant / The Allegheny Front. Researcher Sherri Mason wants to provide data on what kind of plastic is being found in rivers so municipal leaders can make better decisions on regulating plastic waste.