TSU biologists will test Russia's largest river for microplastics
Microplastic pollution of water systems is one of the planet’s most acute problems. Most studies focus on changes in the seas and oceans, but fresh water reservoirs remain unexplored. TSU biologists decided to pay attention to the largest river in Russia - the Ob, which could be one of the most significant ways that microplastics are transferred to the Arctic. Their research will help find out how the accumulation and distribution of poisonous particles occurs and whether the ecosystem can be cleared of them independently.
Microplastic is any type of plastic fragment of 5 mm or less, which therefore can penetrate the body of most living things. In nature, “secondary” microplastics are the breakdown product of plastic bottles, plastic packaging, and other plastic products. Environmental damage is caused by the release of toxic substances (styrene, formaldehyde, phenol, and urethane) released during decomposition. The decomposition period of plastic is several hundred years.
Read more: http://en.tsu.ru/news/tsu-biologists-will-test-russia-s-largest-river-for-microplastics-/
