Mersey has the highest level of microplastic pollution of any river in the world

The Mersey has more plastic floating in it than the infamous ‘great Pacific garbage patch’ and every river contains microplastic, research has found.

Liverpool’s famous river was one of 13 nationwide tested by environmental group Greenpeace – nearly all of which had high levels of microplastic junk.

But the Mersey, which runs for 70 miles from Stockport, Cheshire, had the highest number, with a shocking 875 pieces of microplastic found in half an hour of sampling its waters.

The most polluted section of the Mersey is downstream from a plastics factory, experts note.

Greenpeace is calling for the Government to introduce ‘bold’ new plastic reduction targets and create an independent watchdog with powers to enforce them.

Scientists and campaigners sampled 30 points along the rivers Exe, Thames, Severn, Great Ouse, Trent, Mersey, Aire, Derwent, Wear, Conwy, Wye, Clyde and Lagan.

The River Mersey is overwhelmed with plastic waste, new research has found

The River Mersey has more plastic floating in it than the infamous 'great Pacific garbage patch', a survey has found

The River Mersey has more plastic floating in it than the infamous ‘great Pacific garbage patch’, a survey has found

Scientists found a shocking 875 pieces of microplastic in just half an hour. Pictured: some of the microplastic found in Liverpool's famous river

Scientists found a shocking 875 pieces of microplastic in just half an hour. Pictured: some of the microplastic found in Liverpool’s famous river

WHAT IS THE GREAT PACIFIC GARBAGE PATCH?

The great Pacific garbage patch is the largest accumulation of ocean waste in the world, floating half way between Hawaii and California.

Current estimates show the patch is three times the size of France, and it is estimated to contain 79,000 tonnes of plastic. 

The Ocean Cleanup Foundation found that plastics made up 99.9 per cent of all debris in this part of the ocean.

At least 46 per cent of plastic consisted of fishing nets, and over three quarters of the plastic in this zone was debris larger than 5cm (2 inches), including hard plastics, plastic sheets and film.

Microplastics accounted for eight per cent of the total mass of plastic but 94 per cent of the estimated 1.8 trillion pieces floating in the area. 

Analysis of the samples by Greenpeace scientists at the University of Exeter using an infrared detector found microplastics were in 28 out of 30 locations tested.

A total of 1,271 pieces of plastic ranging from fragments of straws and bottle tops to tiny microbeads less than 1mm across in size were caught in a specially designed net by the survey team.

The pieces in the Mersey makes the waterway, at the time it was sampled, proportionally more polluted than the great Pacific garbage patch, considered by scientists to be one of the most plastic-polluted expanses of water on Earth, Greenpeace said.

The environmental campaign group said the amount of plastic they found in their sample would amount to 2million pieces of microplastic per square kilometre.

That is double that of a 2014 survey of the North Pacific Gyre, which had 1million pieces of microplastic per square kilometre.

The research also found that microbeads, tiny spherical pieces of plastic often used in cosmetic and household products, were found in five rivers despite being partially banned in 2017.

The Daily Mail has spearheaded action to tackle plastic pollution – and led calls to impose a charge on plastic bags, which has dramatically slashed the number of bags ending up in landfill, and also led calls for bans on plastic microbeads in cosmetics.

Seven locations turned up plastic pellets known as ‘nurdles’, which are used in the production of plastic products.

The most numerous instances of microbeads and nurdles were found in the River Mersey, downstream from a plastics factory.

A spokesman for Greenpeace said: ‘We can’t make a statement as to why the Mersey is so disproportionately more polluted than every other river that we tested, but we can confirm that the Mersey is the only river that we tested with a plastics factory on it.’

More than four fifths of the polymers found by Greenpeace were polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene, which are used to make products such as food packaging, milk and water bottles and carrier bags.

Among campaigners taking part in the scientific study was Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright, who played Harry's girlfriend Ginny Weasley in the films of the wizardry series

Among campaigners taking part in the scientific study was Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright, who played Harry’s girlfriend Ginny Weasley in the films of the wizardry series

The research also found that microbeads, tiny spherical pieces of plastic often used in cosmetic and household products, were found in five rivers despite being partially banned in 2017. Pictured: microplastics in the River Mersey

The research also found that microbeads, tiny spherical pieces of plastic often used in cosmetic and household products, were found in five rivers despite being partially banned in 2017. Pictured: microplastics in the River Mersey

Among campaigners taking part in the scientific study was Harry Potter star Bonnie Wright, who played Harry’s girlfriend Ginny Weasley in the films of the wizardry series.

Fiona Nicholls, ocean plastics campaigner for Greenpeace UK, said: ‘This study is a wake-up call for Government.

‘Fiddling around the edges of the plastic pollution problem by banning straws simply doesn’t cut it.

‘We need to see bold new plastic reduction targets in the upcoming Environment Bill, and aim to at least halve single use plastic production by 2025.’

Steve Backshall, wildlife expert and TV presenter, said: ‘Greenpeace’s study has discovered that the River Mersey is even more polluted than the Great Pacific Garbage Patch – surely this will galvanise us all into doing something about this.

‘Plastic pollution isn’t just a domestic issue, its impacts are seen on wildlife and humans all over the world.

‘For the sake of nature and for the sake of future generations we need to stop producing so much of it – it’s the only way forward.’

The Thames had 108 pieces of plastic, Aire had 63, the Severn contained 42 pieces and the Trent samples had 35 pieces.

The Exe samples contained 23 pieces of microplastic in total, the Lagan had 12, the Clyde 11, the Derwent and Wye both had 10, the Wear had five and the Great Ouse contained one. 

The pieces in the Mersey makes the waterway, at the time it was sampled, proportionally more polluted than the great Pacific garbage patch (pictured), considered by scientists to be one of the most plastic-polluted expanses of water on Earth, Greenpeace said

The pieces in the Mersey makes the waterway, at the time it was sampled, proportionally more polluted than the great Pacific garbage patch (pictured), considered by scientists to be one of the most plastic-polluted expanses of water on Earth, Greenpeace said

WHAT ARE MICROPLASTICS AND HOW DO THEY GET INTO OUR WATERWAYS?

Microplastics are plastic particles measuring less than five millimetres (0.2 inches).

They have hit the headlines over recent years, as improper disposal has resulted in tonnes of waste making its way into the ocean.

Each year, tonnes of plastic waste fails to get recycled and dealt with correctly, which can mean they end up in marine ecosystems. 

Although it’s unclear exactly how they end up in the water, microplastics may enter through simple everyday wear and tear of clothing and carpets.

Tumble dryers may also be a source, particularly if they have a vent to the open air. 

Plastics don’t break down for thousands of years and it is estimated that there are already millions of items of plastic waste in the oceans. This number is expected to rise. 

Studies have also revealed 700,000 plastic fibres could be released into the atmosphere with every washing machine cycle.

Current water systems are unable to effectively filter out all microplastic contamination, due to the varying size of particles.  

The amount of plastic rubbish in the world’s oceans will outweigh fish by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to further recycle, a report released in 2016 revealed.

More than 80 per cent of the world’s tap water is contaminated with plastic, research published in September 2017 revealed.

The US has the highest contamination rate at 93 per cent, followed by Lebanon and India, experts from the University of Minnesota found.

France, Germany and the UK have the lowest levels, however, they still come in at 72 per cent.

Overall, 83 per cent of water samples from dozens of nations around the world contain microplastics.

Scientists warn microplastics are so small they could penetrate organs. 

Bottled water may not be a safer alternative, as scientists have found contaminated samples.

Creatures of all shapes and sizes have been found to have consumed the plastics, whether directly or indirectly.

Previous research has also revealed microplastics absorb toxic chemicals, which are then released in the gut of animals.

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