UK rivers found to contain high levels of microplastics
A new study suggests microplastics from urban rivers are a major contributor to the pollution problem in our oceans.
In the first study of its kind, scientists from the University of Manchester examined microplastics in river sediments from 40 sites across Greater Manchester, including urban rivers and rural streams.
Microplastic contamination was found in all parts of the network, including a site on the River Tame at Denton, which had the highest level of contamination recorded anywhere in the world so far.
After a period of flooding, 70 per cent of the microplastics stored on river beds were removed, which demonstrates that flood events can transfer large amounts of microplastics from urban rivers to the oceans.
While around 90 per cent of microplastics in the ocean are thought to come from land, little was previously known about their storage and movements in river basins.
These plastics, which include microbeads, microfibres and plastic fragments, enter river systems from industrial effluents, storm water drains and domestic wastewater.
As a result of the findings, researchers are calling for tighter regulations on waste flowing into urban waterways.
