It is well known that large amounts of rubbish float through Europe's rivers. But when researchers took a closer look at one of the continent's most important waterways, they made an unexpected discovery – the problem is much bigger than previously thought.
Sweden is praised for its waste management and its commitment to the development of the UN's global plastics agreement. At the same time, large amounts of plastic are leaking into Swedish waters. Experts warn that plastic emissions – where microplastics, overflow and sewage sludge all contribute to pollution – continue to threaten Swedish aquatic environments.
They are everywhere, in the sea and on land, in animals and plants and in the human body. Twenty years since the term ‘microplastics’ was defined in a scientific paper; the prestigious publication Science has taken on the task of examining where we are today and how we can tackle the growing problems caused by microplastics.
