Microplastic Pollution Discovered In St. Lawrence River Sediments

plastic-fragments
Flotsam fragmentation. Photo source: ©© Ingrid Taylar

Excerpts;

Microplastics have been discovered widely distributed across the bottom of the St. Lawrence River, the first time such pollutants have been found in freshwater sediments.

The microbeads likely originate from cosmetics, household cleansers, or industrial cleansers, to which they are commonly added as abrasives.Owing to their small size and buoyancy, they may readily pass through sewage treatment plants.

Microplastics are a global contaminant in the world’s oceans, but have only recently been detected in the surface waters of lakes and rivers…

Read Full Article, Science Daily

Plastic Waste Threatens Lakes As Well As Oceans, BBC News (10-07-2013)

Tiny Plastic Beads Are Invading The Great Lakes. Here’s What Scientists Are Doing To Stop It, Huffington Green (11-03-2013)

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