The River Thame in Manchester is not the first place you would think off if you were looking for microplastics. However, recent research has shown that it has the highest levels of microplastics found so far anywhere in the world. The report also stated that major floods in the area in 2015-16 flushed more than 40bn pieces of microplastic into the sea.
Inevitably many other rivers will have more microplastics, but that research has yet to be conducted. What it does confirm is that the problem is pervasive and we should be looking at global solutions. This is as much a western world, northern hemisphere issue as it is less developed parts of the planet.
(Images source: University of Manchester)
