Sei sulla pagina 1di 15

Home News Sport Weather Shop Reel Travel M

Microplastics found in 'pristine' Pyrenees mountains

2 hours ago

STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY

Scientists have found that a secluded region in the Pyrenees mountains - previously
considered pristine wilderness - is covered with airborne microplastics.

A team from Strathclyde and Toulouse universities spent five months in the area, which
straddles France and Spain.

They estimate that each day an average of 365 tiny plastic fragments or fibres settled on
every square metre of land.

The nearest major city - Toulouse - is about 75 miles away.

Researchers collected samples from what they considered to be an uncontaminated area in


south west France, about four miles from the nearest village.

Earth is becoming 'Planet Plastic'

A month without plastic - 10 years on

UN signals 'end' of throwaway plastic


Samples from monitoring devices were analysed to identify whether the tiny plastic pieces,
invisible to the naked eye and less than five millimetres long, were present in the mountain
range.

It is not known the distance microplastics can travel, but the paper, published in the Nature
Geoscience journal, suggests fragments are regularly travelling distances of nearly 60 miles.

STRATHCLYDE UNIVERSITY

Steve Allen, a researcher from Strathclyde University, said the research suggested
microplastics were being transported by the wind.

He said: "It's astounding and worrying that so many particles were found in the Pyrenees field
site.

ADVERTISEMENT
"It opens up the possibility that it's not only in the cities you are breathing this in, but it can
travel quite some distance from the sources.

"Plastic litter is an increasing global issue and one of the key environmental challenges we
face on global scale."

Record concentration of microplastics found

Microplastics found in Scottish waters

Plastic particles found in bottled water

Mr Allen said that researchers had yet to determine the full impact of microplastics, but that
other experiments had suggested they could lead to changes in feeding and mating habits in
some species.

Microplastics, which are completely invisible to the naked eye, have also been detected in the
oceans and aquatic life.

They have been found in tap water around the world and in some of the most remote places
on earth, with studies showing they have even reached Antarctica.

Related Topics

Environment Toulouse University of Strathclyde Plastic pollution

Share this story About sharing

Scotland
Abuse claim monk 'should return to Scotland'
16 April 2019 Highlands & Islands

Reward bid to catch traffic lights killer


16 April 2019 Glasgow & West Scotland
Easter march re-routed after priest attack
16 April 2019 Glasgow & West Scotland

From other local news sites

Teen girl attacked in Paisley in 'unprovoked' assault


Paisley Gazette

Kilmacolm bowlers took to the green for the official launch of the outdoor season
Greenock Telegraph

Robin House nurse Caroline has key role in new service


Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter

Public sets out priorities for Vale of Leven Hospital at Dumbarton meeting
Dumbarton & Vale of Leven Reporter

Family “extremely worried” for man missing from Auchinloch near Lenzie
Kirkintilloch Herald

Major road set for three night closure


Barrhead News

About these results

More Videos from the BBC


Recommended by Outbrain
House-share struggles 'I live with a stoma in a A rare weather
with a stoma house share' phenomenon like no
other

Ecuador says Assange Passengers rescue man Hymns and shock after
used embassy to spy from oncoming train Notre-Dame fire

Elsewhere on BBC
Recommended by Outbrain

BBC News BBC Culture


'Dropout' jailed for dark web site Coachella 2019: Weekend 1, Day 2 in
pictures
BBC News BBC Future
Social outcry over video of mum Why catastrophes can change the
kicking girl course of humanity

BBC News BBC Capital


Car flips on roof in 101mph road rage Why airlines make flights longer on
row purpose

From Around the Web


Promoted content by Outbrain

Malerische Küstenorte im Westen Michigans


VisitTheUSA.de

Famous Lasting Couples Who Never Tied the Knot


Family Minded

10 Tipps zum Abnehmen ohne Totalverzicht


Richtig abnehmen

How Maps Give a Distorted View of the World


Far and Wide

How IoT Worlds Are Networked from Orbit


blog.paessler.com

Serena Williams Sells Longtime Los Angeles Home for $8.1


Million
Mansion Global

Top Stories
Millions pledged to rebuild Notre-Dame
Offers of help have been pouring in from around the globe after the fire at the Paris cathedral.
44 minutes ago

Russia jails Norwegian for spying on submarines


3 hours ago

'Not privilege': Kim K defends studying law


2 hours ago

Features

Notre-Dame photo sparks viral search


Images of the fire and its aftermath

The moment cathedral's spire fell


The mental rigours of being US president

DNA reveals origin of Stonehenge builders


The Istanbul club backed by passion - and a president

Sentenced to read - the teens who sprayed racist graffiti


The tribe who can't read so can't vote

'How I made fathers carry babies on their backs'

Elsewhere on the BBC


Lyrics quiz
Have you been getting these songs wrong?

Feeling hot
What happens to your body in extreme heat?

Most Read
Notre-Dame fire: Millions pledged to rebuild cathedral 1

Notre-Dame: Hunt for ‘dad and daughter’ in photo goes viral 2


Notre-Dame fire: Paris surveys aftermath of cathedral blaze 3

Sleep myths 'damaging your health' 4

Stonehenge: DNA reveals origin of builders 5

Extinction Rebellion London protest: Arrests top 120 6

Change UK party approved for European elections 7

Amazon 'flooded by fake five-star reviews' - Which? report 8

Pulitzers: Capital Gazette wins for coverage of newsroom 9


massacre

Les Reed: Delilah songwriter dies aged 83 10

ADVERTISEMENT

Why you can trust BBC News

BBC News Services


On your mobile

On your connected tv
Get news alerts

Contact BBC News

Explore the BBC


Home News

Sport Weather

Shop Reel

Travel Capital

Culture Future

Sounds CBBC

CBeebies Food

Bitesize Arts

Make It Digital Taster

Nature Local

TV Radio

Terms of Use About the BBC

Privacy Policy Cookies

Accessibility Help Parental Guidance

Contact the BBC Get Personalised Newsletters

Advertise with us Ad choices

Copyright © 2019 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our
approach to external linking.

Potrebbero piacerti anche