Microplastics in rivers

To what extent are Germany’s rivers contaminated by microplastics? A new study provides some specific clues for the first time. Between 2014 and 2017, a research group gathered and analyzed water samples from 22 rivers, mainly in the catchment area of the Rhein and Donau rivers. The new findings now represent one of the world’s largest data sets from standardized studies on the appearance of plastic particles in rivers.