Scientists have long known that tyres contribute to microplastic pollution, as wear on the roads releases microfibres into the environment, leading to increased plastic contamination of soils and waterways. Now a study from Friends of the Earth has sought to quantify the scale of the problem, estimating that UK vehicles release up to 68,000 tonnes […]
In one of the first studies to determine potential sources of microplastics pollution, researchers have found that water samples from UK rivers contained significantly higher concentrations of microplastics downstream from wastewater treatment plants. Scientists from the University of Leeds measured microplastics concentrations up and downstream of the following six wastewater treatment plants and river catchments: […]
An EU project led by the German Geomar Helmholtz Center for Ocean Research is looking for jellyfish with a talent for catching microplastics. The objective is to develop, test and promote a gelatinous solution to microplastic pollution by developing a microplastics filter (GoJelly) for commercial and public use. The main raw material would be jellyfish […]
Guardian: Researchers find levels of plastic fibres in popular bottled water brands could be twice as high as those found in tap water The World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced a review into the potential risks of plastic in drinking water after a new analysis of some of the world’s most popular bottled water brands […]
Microplastic contamination of the oceans is one of the world’s most pressing environmental concerns. The terrestrial component of the global microplastic budget is not well understood because sources, stores and fluxes are poorly quantified. We report catchment-wide patterns of microplastic contamination, classified by type, size and density, in channel bed sediments at 40 sites across […]
An exclusive in last week’s Guardian reported microplastic contamination has been found in tap water in countries around the world, leading to calls from scientists for urgent research on the implications for health. Scores of tap water samples from more than a dozen nations were analysed by scientists for an investigation by Orb Media, who […]
Check this carefully because there are at least four links to new Government information on plastics and microbeads. Also this is just one element of the Green Brexit speech give at WWF HQ. Defra ‘Environment Secretary Michael Gove pledged action to reduce plastic waste choking our oceans as he set out his ambition for […]
The European Commission will present by the end of 2017 a Strategy on Plastics as part of the Circular Economy Action Plan; one of its components will address leakages of plastic to the environment. As inputs for the Strategy, the Commission has launched studies investigating all sources of micro-plastics and options to reduce their emissions. […]