A new study of one of Canada’s most urbanized river basins suggests it carries about 18 cars’ worth of microplastics into Lake Ontario every year.
University of Toronto professor Chelsea Rochman says she was “shocked” to find Toronto’s Don River was so polluted.
Her team’s peer-reviewed study, published today, predicts the river carries about 36-thousand kilograms of microplastics into the lake each year, compared to about 160 kilograms from larger plastic items such as bags and wet wipes.
The estimated 500 billion microplastic particles come from a range of sources, including construction foam, pieces of plastic bags and car tires.
Microplastic pollution has been linked to a suite of issues, including lower levels of fish growth and reproduction, with some studies also raising concerns about human health impacts.
Rochman says the study suggests the amount of plastic in the river was about the same before and after a storm, suggesting that if all plastic pollution was cut off, the river may naturally “clean itself” over time.
(The Canadian Press)
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